Statin drugs are relatively new but their use is expanding at a very rapid rate. Some of the most popular statin drugs are zocor, mevacor, lipitor, crestor and several others. These drugs are used to lower or slow down LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) production. Statins are typically combined with fibrates which also help them lower triglycerides (the fat in your blood) as well.

The most common side effects of statin drugs are myalgia (muscle pain), liver damage and digestive problems.Using statin drugs will increase your risk substantially of developing statin myalgia in the form of lower back pain, leg pain and other musculoskeletal complaints. Statin myalgia is muscle pain caused by the use of statin drugs. This seems to be the most common side effect of using statin drugs. Some studies show as much as a 50-60% increased risk of developing these musculoskeletal complaints when compared to people of the same age who do not use statins. In severe cases the breakdown of muscle tissue can even lead to irreversible kidney damage.

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is an enzyme found mainly in the skeletal muscle, heart and brain. By monitoring the levels of CPK in the blood you can tell if the statin drugs that you are taking are causing any damage to your muscles. If you take multiple medications keep in mind that there are also other medications that can cause elevated enzymes in your blood. Many physicians will dismiss or ignore the sometimes devastating side effects that this class of drugs can have on the body.

If you are considering beginning a course of statin drugs make sure your doctor does blood tests before you start. It is critical to get a baseline CPK blood level before you start any statin therapy so if you subsequently develop myalgia you can retest your CPK levels to see if you are damaging your muscles. Your doctor should also be monitoring your liver enzymes as well as a matter of routine. The supplement CoQ10 has been shown to be effective in treating the myalgia associated with the use of statins.

Start CoQ10 which is readily available at most reputable drug or health food stores. Dosage should be 200-300 mg per day. If the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your routine daily activities and is lowering your overall quality of life you should talk with the prescribing doctor and discuss possible reduction in dosage or possibly trial withdrawal of the offending statin.

According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, more than two billion people, which amount to almost one-third of the human population, harbors parasites. Anthelmintic medication, which is commonly known as de-worming, helps eliminate such parasites and worms from the body. The medication, which destroys parasites effectively, is used to de-worm animals too.

Some parasites pester only a single species while many have the propensity to affect and distribute between multiple species. The latter type can easily affect humans because of their proximity to animals. The usual symptoms of infection ranges from loss of body weight, problems with abdominal functioning, discomfort in the intestines, hair loss or malnutrition.

However, some parasites acquire immunity to certain drugs over a period of time, and in such cases, multiple doses may be required. The process is approached in a delicate manner by physicians because the anthelmintic process can make the affected person or animal sicklier for short periods. Small dosages are the best bet here because heavy doses can pose health hazards to the parasitic host.

Depending on the type of parasite, a plethora of anthelmintic medications, including ivermectin, albendazole, mebendazole, diethylcarbamazine, and praziquantel, are commonly used. The dosage is determined by the seriousness of the situation and the stage of life cycle in which the parasitic worm is. Some of these drugs can handle a variety of such parasites, which some are specifically designed to destroy one particular parasite.

Anthelmintic drugs destroy these parasites in two ways. Vermifuges stun these unwanted guests and make them unsettled while vermicides kill them outright. In both the cases, the worms can easily be expelled from the body. Along with pharmaceutical drugs, some natural compounds are also found to be effective in treating these kinds of infestations.

The number of affected human beings is simply astounding, which points out to the need for good hygienic practices. People need to be educated about effective strategies against this health menace. Frequent washing of hands, keeping away from areas known to be breeding grounds for such parasites etc are effective measures, but the problem is that these parasitic attacks are infectious and can pass from one carrier to another.

Again, there is always a chance for getting re-infected by the same kind of works, if utmost care is not given. For example, people working with farm animals need to be doubly cautious and take precautionary measures. Dogs and cats can ingest them from the food they hunt. This means that your pet also needs to be administered de-worming drugs periodically while you follow a healthy and informed lifestyle in order to pre-empt any chance of getting affected or re-affected.

This is an argument that I have encountered many times in regards to marijuana and one I myself use to use when I had a marijuana habit, in order to convince myself it was ok. You know the one, alcohol is worse, tobacco is worse, etc. Well worse in what way? If you’re talking about permanent damage to the lungs, alcohol is not worse than marijuana for that and if you’re talking about memory loss and cognitive problems, then tobacco isn’t worse than marijuana in that respect either. If you’re talking about mental health problems then tobacco and alcohol aren’t necessarily worse than marijuana. I have never heard of anyone’s mental health problems being triggered or made worse by smoking cigarettes. So when people start saying that this drug is worse than that, it’s a bit of a silly argument because different drugs affect the human body in different ways. When you start saying which is “worse”, I think you have to ask yourself the question worse for what?

Not only that but different drugs affect different people in different ways, for someone with a vulnerability or predisposition to mental health problems, smoking marijuana can be worse for their mental health than taking heroin. And before I get all the pro marijuana Rottweiler’s jump all over me crying “he said marijuana was worse than heroin” let’s burn him, well for certain peoples mental health it can be. So before you go convincing yourself of which drug is “worse”, just ask yourself worse for what. They all have their risks and side effects, even if they are different and one type of drug may be worse for a certain individual than another. So you can’t always really say that this or that drug is worse for everybody, because it isn’t always the case.

And for the record please don’t take this as me defending alcohol, tobacco or any other drug, either legal or illegal, that’s not the purpose of this article. All I am saying is that all drugs can have different potential side effects and the only reason I am writing this is because there are many who believe that marijuana, is the exception to the rule and has no negative side effects. Which from firsthand experience I know isn’t the case.

Anyway the whole argument of which is worse than what, is a bit irrelevant when considering the negative effects of marijuana anyway, maybe there are other drugs that are worse for certain things, that doesn’t make marijuana any less harmful. Maybe smoking cigarettes is worse for the lungs than smoking marijuana, although there is plenty of evidence to say that it’s not, but let’s for arguments sake say they are, that doesn’t mean marijuana isn’t bad for the lungs too, it doesn’t make the negative effects marijuana has on the lungs any less worse. Maybe it’s worse to get hit by a truck than a car, you still don’t want to get hit by a car. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

I run a forum that offers advice and support to those who are trying to quit marijuana. To speak to others who are there, or have been there visit the Cannabis Addiction Forum.

Experienced parents know that fads come and go. Something that ignites teen fever one day may fizzle into nothing a few weeks later.

But when it comes to teen drug use, trendy designer drugs can be just as dangerous as the substances we’ve been warned about for decades. Even those that quickly lose their appeal among teens do their share of damage along the way.

Here are five of the most dangerous teen drug trends you shouldn’t ignore:

Teen Drug Trend #1: Bath Salts

Bath salts hit the teen drug scene in 2010 and have since become a serious concern among law enforcement, hospitals, drug rehabs and parents. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, calls about bath salts are up from 303 in all of 2010 to 3,470 between January and June of 2011.

Bath salts are stimulants similar to meth and cocaine, but they are being sold legally under the names Vanilla Sky, Aura, Hurricane Charlie, Ivory Wave and many others. To get around the laws that would make bath salts illegal, manufacturers label them “not for human consumption” and sometimes market them as plant food or other seemingly innocuous products.

The active chemicals in bath salts are mephedrone and MDPV, but there is currently no reliable way to test for these drugs. At least 35 states have banned ingredients found in bath salts and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is considering making these drugs controlled Schedule I drugs like heroin and ecstasy, yet teens are still easily accessing these drugs.

Bath salts can make a perfectly “normal” teen psychotic – literally. Physicians throughout the country have been shocked to see their emergency rooms inundated by delusional, violent teens who are high on bath salts. Teens present with dangerously high fevers, high blood pressure, racing heartbeat and muscle agitation so severe it can lead to kidney failure. In addition to being highly addictive, these drugs can cause heart attack, seizures, muscle damage, stroke and even death.

After being treated with heavy sedatives and antipsychotics in some cases, adolescents sometimes end up in the psychiatric hospital because the bath salts made them so violent, paranoid and out of touch with reality. Even after days of being sedated, the psychosis can come back, causing some to fear that the effects of these drugs may be permanent.

Teen Drug Trend #2: Kratom

Kratom is the newest drug gaining popularity among teens in the U.S. Derived from a plant found in southeast Asia, kratom has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes in other countries. Kratom is sold in the form of leaves, powder, extract or capsules, and can be swallowed, drank as a tea or snorted as a powder.

Kratom is not controlled by the DEA and is known by the names Thom, Kakuam, Biak, Thang or Ketum. The effects of kratom vary from alertness, increased energy and weight loss (in small doses) to relaxation, dry mouth, sweating and reduced sensitivity to pain (in large doses). The drug takes effect within minutes of use, producing a mild high that typically lasts two to five hours.

Even though it is legal and readily accessible, kratom is addictive. Once addicted, teens who stop using kratom may experience withdrawal symptoms such as cold-like symptoms, depression, diarrhea and insomnia. In an effort to cope with these withdrawal symptoms or to amplify the high, teens may begin using harder drugs or mixing kratom with alcohol or other drugs.

Teen Drug Trend #3: Spice / K2

Another drug that has likely made its way into your community is Spice, also known as K2, skunk or J-dub. Spice is a blend of herbs sprayed with a potent psychotropic drug that contains synthetic cannabinoids. The drug impacts the same receptors in the brain as marijuana (hence the name “legal marijuana”), but Spice can be up to 10 times stronger than marijuana, producing a high that typically lasts one to two hours after smoking.

Spice has landed many adolescents in the emergency room. It can cause vomiting, agitation, panic attacks, hallucinations, seizures, high blood pressure, paranoia and elevated heart rate.

Despite these dangers, Spice is legally sold as “incense” or “potpourri” in head shops and on the Internet. A few states have banned Spice but teens continue to find ways to skirt the laws by purchasing the drug online. Because Spice does not show up on drug tests, many parents falsely believe that their teens are drug-free.

Teen Drug Trend #4: Salvia

Salvia is a powerful hallucinogenic herb that is being used as often as Ecstasy and even more often than LSD, according to The New York Times. The drug comes in a variety of forms, including seeds, leaves or liquid extract, and takes effect within seconds if smoked.

Salvia affects a different area of the brain than other drugs such as opiates or other hallucinogens. The experience is not a “high” but a sometimes disturbing altered sense of reality. Teens abuse salvia for its intense but short-lived hallucinogenic properties. Other effects include disconnectedness from reality, dizziness, a sense of being in many places at one time, and bizarre sensations of “hearing” colors and “seeing” sounds.

Salvia is not currently regulated by the DEA, though it is considered a drug of concern. A number of states have regulated Salvia, but the process is slow to catch up to the severity of the problem.

Teen Drug Trend #5: Prescription Drugs

Teen prescription drug abuse is not “new,” but is so pervasive, and so dangerous, that it merits a place in the top five teen drug trends. There are as many new abusers of painkillers as there are of marijuana, according to SAMHSA’s 2007 National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH). This means that when your teen is deciding which drug to try, they’re as likely to try prescription drugs as they are marijuana.

The most popular prescription drugs abused by teens are painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin, but a significant number of teens abuse stimulants and depressants as well. In the majority of cases, teens get prescription drugs for free from a friend or relative. Because they are legal when prescribed by a physician, teens believe prescription drugs are less dangerous and less likely to get them in trouble with parents or the law.

The consequences of teen prescription drug abuse can be as severe and life-threatening as illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine. Painkiller abuse can cause teens to stop breathing. Abuse of depressants can result in decreased heart rate, depressed breathing and seizures. Stimulant abuse has caused heart failure, high body temperature, irregular heart rate and seizures. These effects are worsened when teens take prescription drugs with alcohol or other drugs.

Every day, 2,500 youth ages 12 to 17 abuse a prescription painkiller for the first time (NSDUH, 2007). Drug use starts young – 13 is the mean age for abuse of stimulants and sedatives, and more than half of teens who have abused prescription pain relievers first tried them before age 15. Studies show that the earlier drug use begins, the more likely teens are to struggle with drug addiction in adulthood.

You Are Not Powerless

What all of these drugs have in common is that they are easy to obtain, difficult to detect and are legal in certain forms. Because there is a strong demand for these drugs, experts believe we will continue to see new variations on designer drugs in the years to come.

Talk with your teen early and often about the dangers of drugs, whether legal or illegal, and be vigilant about safeguarding your medications and setting clear expectations for your child’s behavior and attitudes around drugs. Drug trends come and go, but the one that sweeps up your teen could impact their life forever.

This form of drug testing does not have to be sent to the lab for professional analysis. The results appear quickly after being done. This type of drug test can be advantageous in a workplace. This instant drug test can be used if an employee is hurt on the job. It will show if the employee was under the influence of an illegal drug causing the employee to be careless and cause the accident. It is often used in a drug treatment program to see if anyone in the program is lying about the m using illegal drugs. It is also used in probation offices to check those on probation for illegal drug usage.

This test may screen for only one illegal drug like opiates or marijuana but some of them test for several drugs at the same time. An instant drug test may feature parameters or panels, which will tell how many substances the test will screen for. Some of the common instant tests are five panel, ten panel, and three panel. The test that is considered more comprehensive is the ten panel. It will screen for about ninety-five percent of all illegal drugs. This includes methamphetamines, marijuana, opiates, and cocaine.

These drug tests can be done in different ways but the one that is used the most is the urine instant drug test. When it screens the person’s urine, it screens for the metabolites in the urine and not the presence of any particular drug. These metabolites exist only because of a drug that a person might be using. These can test a person’s blood, hair, saliva, and even sweat, too.

In addition to testing for illegal drugs, these tests can also test for recent alcohol consumption. A Breathalyzer® is a form of an instant drug test for alcohol. It uses a sample of a person’s breath to determine their blood alcohol content. There are blood and urine tests that screen for alcohol in the body along with alcohol strips. These are put in the mouth to identify if the person has drunk alcohol.

The time a drug can be detected accurately is called the detection period. These time periods vary with each illegal drug because each illegal drug is metabolized at different rates by the body. Marijuana is detected in the urine up to thirty days after smoking it. This is because it is stored in the fat cells of your body and takes longer to purge. Being a water-soluble substance cocaine is usually out of your system within seventy-two hours after using.

An instant drug test makes it harder to get a job and helps prevent employers from paying workers compensation for accidents due to the employee being under the influence of illegal drugs.

Excessive daytime sleepiness might indicate that you might have a sleeping condition called narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a condition where a person experiences excessive sleepiness during daytime hours. One of the treatments prescribed for this type of sleeping disorder is the Modafinil drug.

What is the Modafinil drug?

This drug is considered as a eurogeroic or a wakefulness-promoting agent. It was designed in France around 1970s, and licensed under Cephalon, a US company in the 1990s. The drug was used to treat sleeping disorders such as narcolepsy and shift work disorder. Although it was used in treating sleeping conditions, the medication does not cure the sleeping disorders and is not recommended for use for people who are not getting enough sleep or as a treatment to ward off sleep.

How it Works

It is believed that the drug affects the dopamine transporter, which increases the muscle movement in certain areas of the brain responsible for motivation thus resulting to a “wakefulness effect” on the patient.

Side Effects

The use of the medication may result to mild side effects including feelings of nausea, anxiety, headache, nervousness and insomnia. Some patients may experience serious side effects such as hypersensitivity or serious skin reactions, fainting, psychosis, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems as well as multi-organ sensitivity. Addiction and dependence may also occur due to overdose use of the medication over an extended period or if the patient has a history of drug abuse or dependence.

How Should the Medicine be Taken?

The use of the modafinil drug depends on what type of treatment that one is undergoing. For patients that are diagnosed with narcolepsy, the drug may be taken orally once a day with or without food, usually in the morning. On the other hand, for treatment of shift work sleeping disorder, the physician may prescribe the intake of the drug one hour before the work shift starts.

Precautions

As the drug may be habit-forming, it is important that patients talk with their health care provider and follow the prescription of the doctor to prevent abuse or dependence. Individuals that have drug allergies or reactions to certain medications should also consult their physician or pharmacist on how to proceed about the medication.

For women who are taking contraceptives or birth control, pregnant or breast-feeding, they should take note of their conditions before taking the medicine. The drug may reduce the effectiveness of the birth control pills and affect pregnancy.

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided is for information purposes only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

Male enhancement drugs offer men a chance to curb erectile dysfunction problems at the cost of a few side effects.

As with most new prescription drugs being marketed to the public, all have certain side effects that the consumer must be aware of. We’ve all heard the soft voiced gentlemen at the end of every drug commercial naming off the dozen or so side effects, hoping we’re watching the happy people on the screen and not actually listening. It is of vital importance that consumers educate themselves on what could happen when taking these prescription drugs.

Side effects associated with male enhancement drugs are typically mild depending on the dosage consumed. Typical side effects include headache, flushing, upset stomach, nasal stuffiness, diarrhea, and dizziness. In extremely rare instances, men who use Zenegra, Viagra, and Cialis may have an erection that lasts many hours. If any of these aforementioned side effects persist or worsen, notify a physician immediately.

Men seeking the help of male enhancement drugs should consult a physician before usage. Most side effects occur when taking more than the prescribed amount. Erectile dysfunction drugs such as Zenegra and Cialis have positive effects when taken properly and not abused. With proper education and information, men can enjoy the effects of male enhancement drugs with little or no side effects.

For additional information on Zenegra and other male enhancement drugs, contact your local physician or look to an online pharmacy such as The Online Pharmacy

About The Online Pharmacy: We are an online pharmacy specializing in information on pharmaceutical products of all kinds. We provide people with critical information needed to understand and diagnose most medical problems.

Like many cancer survivors who have endured chemotherapy treatments, I have often said, "The treatment was worse than the disease." Why is it that, in spite of the very dangerous side effects of chemotherapy, it still seems to be the choice treatment of many oncologists? Do you think it might be because administering chemotherapy is very profitable for the oncologists?

Did you know that cancer doctors are allowed to profit from the sale of chemotherapy drugs? It is totally restricted and exclusive for oncologists. I don't know of any other group of doctors who are allowed to profit from the sale of drugs.

Think about this. A significant amount of revenue for oncologists comes from the profit they make from selling the chemotherapy drugs. Do you think that is why chemotherapy is so widely used by oncologists? Is it "All about the money?"

Do you think oncologists might be tempted to give you the drug that they're going to make the most profit from? I like to have the faith that my doctor has my best interest at heart. Unfortunately, the money incentives, does something to destroy my faith.

Here is what I believe to be a perfect example of that. Trisha Torrey, was told by her doctor, "You have a very rare cancer – a lymphoma – called Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-Cell Lymphoma." Her doctor referred her to an oncologist. The news from the oncologist was very discouraging. She was told, without chemo she would be dead before Christmas. She asked about the possibility that the lab results were wrong. She was told, "No – not a chance. Two labs had independently confirmed the results." She said the pressure began to mount to begin chemotherapy.

Terry sought out the opinion of another oncologist. Three weeks later, in late September, she was given the confirmation that, in fact, she had no cancer. Is it possible her first oncologist was pressuring her into having chemotherapy because of the money he would make? I don't know but it is a scary thought.

Oncologists are very much like the business owners of retail stores. According to a recent NBC News Report, oncologists make most of their income by buying products (drugs) wholesale and selling them to patients at retail.

Like any business owner, the private practice oncologists, are entitled to, and deserve to make a living. My question is; Should they make their money from treating patients or by SELLING the drugs? Other types of doctors don't have that option.

And where do you think the oncologists get their information about the drugs they are selling? It comes from the pharmaceutical sales person. Do you think that information might be biased?

How did this practice start? It started because Medicare and the insurance companies wanted to save money by transferring cancer treatments out of the hospital and into the hands of private practice oncologists. Again, it's all about the money. Unfortunately, that greed backfired and we the patients are paying the price. Since that policy was initiated, prices for many cancer drugs soared to tens of thousands of dollars a year.

All chemotherapy drugs used in the United States have been approved by the FDA. Does that make them safe? Do you think pharmaceutical companies influences the FDA into approving dangerous drugs the way they influence the private practice cancer doctors? I do.

I believe the pharmaceutical companies, and their lobbyists, have too much influence over the decision-making and policy of oncologists and the FDA.

It is well known that the FDA has allowed many drugs, including chemotherapy, to remain on the market in spite of serious risk factors. How did it come to pass that dangerous drugs get approved by the FDA and oncologists make significant profits from selling them? Meet the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the drug industry trade group

PhRMA lobbied for the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of 1992. The drug industry agreed to help finance the approval process – in exchange for an FDA promise to speed up its deliberations. Does this make the FDA financially beholden to the industry it is supposed to regulate? I think so.

There are many natural non-toxic chemotherapies that kill malignancies. Laetrile, which is basically vitamin B17 selectively seeks out and destroys cancer cells and is available in many plant foods. It does that without harming healthy cels. Maybe the farmers who grow those plants should give oncologists a commission for selling their crops.

In spite of the tone of this article, I AM NOT AGAINST going to an oncologist for cancer treatment. I am not against all chemotherapy treatments. I am suggesting that you do as Trisha Torrey did; get a second opinion.

I almost died from my first two rounds of chemotherapy. I also felt the oncologists were arrogant and egotistical. I was not all comfortable with them. I then returned to the cape where I live and started my treatment all over again. My doctor on the cape, Dr. Victor Aviles, did in fact treat me with chemotherapy. It was not the same drug as the Boston doctors used. I do not believe he chose this drug because of the profit motive. It was the drug best suited for my particular cancer. I always felt very comfortable with him.

My closing thought. If you are not totally comfortable with your doctor, get another one. There are wonderful, dedicated and honest oncologists out there. You may have to visit several to find the right one for you.

Stress relief is of utmost importance in today’s society where we are constantly busy as a way of living and might not take enough time to restore our energies. Drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, as well as recreational drugs such as cocaine, speed, ecstasy and tranquilizers have become default stress relievers. The following article will explain why those choices are not the best to effectively deal with stress.

The timing of the effect

Drugs, such as those mentioned above, mostly have a short term effect to relax the body, mind and the emotions. This means they appear to work seemingly well as the effect can be noticed almost immediately and the perceived stress relief occurs quickly. The truth is that as quick as those drugs work, as quick is also the time until the effect wears off. The side-effects of some drugs, like hangover or tiredness, will make you less able to cope with the causes of stress, which haven’t been dealt with.

Physical side-effects

Just as mentioned above all drugs have side-effects. People who have become addicted to these drugs initially overlook or downplay these side-effects and justify their use. With regular consumption of drugs the body gets used to the biochemical effect and craves it. Smoking, for example, helps to suppress emotions. That’s why people have a smoke when dealing with important decisions or after an emotionally stressful meeting. Alcohol has become so socially acceptable and cool that it is almost a requirement to fit in certain circles. Smoking as we know, leads to physical illnesses like emphysema, heart disease or lung cancer and generally leas to increase your blood pressure. These are just two examples of the side-effects of drugs, which all render you less capable to deal with the stress that you thought you were relieving through the drugs.

Mental and emotional side-effects

In addition to dealing with the original cause of stress, dealing with addictions adds another level of stress. Tranquilizer or sleeping pills, as an example, enable you to sleep and physically rest your body but they do not support those sleep cycles that help you restore and digest the problems of the day on an emotional and mental level.

Additionally your thought patterns will be affected in a way to suggest that you have more of the drugs and to justify their use: ‘It’s only for a short period’ or ‘I will stop in a week after the rough part is over’. Following on from there you will have to deal with guilt, self-punishment and lowered self-esteem and self-confidence. Again, all these effects will undermine your natural ability to deal with the normal stresses of life.

Whatever drugs you are currently using and whatever justification you are telling yourself – in the end you are not dealing with the cause of the stress itself and you don’t do yourself any favor or enable yourself to better deal with the stress.

A connection between drug use and high syphilis rates in the United States was established by a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sarah Kidd, lead author of the report, pointed out that two major health issues, namely addiction and syphilis, seemed to be colliding with each other.

The report displayed a connection between drug use and instances of syphilis in heterosexual men and women. As per the report, the usage of heroin, methamphetamine, and other injection drugs by the aforementioned group almost doubled from 2013 to 2017.

The report however, did not display a similar increase in drug abuse in gay men suffering from syphilis. According to the researchers, the results of the study indicated that risky sexual behaviors associated with drug abuse may be one of the key driving factors for this increase in syphilis among the heterosexual population.

People using drugs more likely to engage in unsafe sexual activities

According to experts, people abusing drugs are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual activities, thereby making them more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Syphilis significantly increased among heterosexuals especially during the ‘crack cocaine epidemic’ prevalent during the 1980s and 1990s. It was observed that during this particular time period, the usage of drugs was connected with the higher transmission rates of syphilis.

According to Patricia Kissinger, professor epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, it is common tendency among people abusing drugs to indulge in unprotected sex, exchange sex in lieu of money or drugs, and have multiple sex partners. All these are considered as significant risk factors contributing to the spread of the disease.

Syphilis rates are setting new records

At the national level, the occurrences of syphilis jumped by around 73 percent at an overall level and 156 percent in case of women patients between 2013 and 2017. While syphilis had been almost eradicated, of late, the highest resurgence of the disease was reported in California, Louisiana, and Nevada. Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can cause organ damage and even death in some cases. In women, congenital syphilis typically occurs when a mother transmits the disease to her unborn baby, leading to cases of premature birth and newborn fatalities.

Analyzing the syphilis cases that occurred between 2013 and 2017, the researchers discovered that methamphetamine abuse was the biggest contributor. The report revealed that more than one-third of women and a quarter of heterosexual men suffering from syphilis were reported to be abusing methamphetamine within the last year. The California Department of Public Health reported that methamphetamine use by people suffering from syphilis, doubled in case of heterosexual men and women between 2013 and 2017.

Why is it difficult to treat sexually transmitted infections?

Owing to the overlapping instances of substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it becomes challenging to identify and treat people suffering from syphilis. That is because, typically, people using drugs are less likely to visit a doctor or report their sexual activities or partners.

Likewise, pregnant women may refrain from seeking prenatal care and get themselves tested for syphilis owing to concerns such as their gynecologists reporting their drug abuse. To combat this issue, the CDC urges to bring about more collaboration between programs treating substance abuse and programs addressing STIs.

Fresno County reported highest rate of congenital syphilis

According to the report, the highest rate of congenital syphilis was reported in Fresno County in California. The county’s community health division manager, Joe Prado, said that the California Health Department analyzed around 25 congenital syphilis cases in 2017 and more than two-thirds of these women were abusing drugs.

To address this issue, the country took proactive measures such as offering STD testing for patients getting admitted into inpatient drug treatment centers. Patients coming back for reports were provided incentives including gift cards. Apart from this, for patients undergoing drug treatment, the county offered a care package comprising of contraceptives and education materials about STIs.

Challenges faced

While it is significant to have an increased collaboration between STD clinics and drug treatment providers, it is not always that simple, since these two entities have not worked together previously. Usually both these units tend to focus only on their relevant specialties and often fail to screen people for associated ailments like syphilis or other forms of STIs or for drug abuse.

According to Jeffrey Kalusner, professor of medicine and public health at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in order to fight the rising rates of syphilis more resources are needed. He added that though policies can be implemented towards syphilis testing, these policies need to be accompanied with appropriate resources.

Seeking treatment for drug abuse

Drug abuse is often associated with the development of physical ailments like hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and other STDs. These infections can be severe and result in rapid deterioration of overall health. The best way to avoid the contraction of these diseases is to avoid taking drugs or if addicted, to seek addiction treatment help at the earliest.

The drug rehab centers of Hillside Mission offer comprehensive evidence-based treatment plans for substance abuse. Whether selecting an inpatient, outpatient, or a residential plan, the detox process at Hillside Mission is designed to minimize the patient’s discomfort and result in a shorter treatment cycle.