How to Use an Alcohol Breathalyzer?

Driving under the influence of alcohol is unsafe and illegal. A majority of crashes that take place are due to drunk driving. However, in order to get away from this risk, it is better to use alcohol breathalyzers. An alcohol breathalyzer is a device which analyzes alcohol content in the breath and thereby determines blood alcohol concentration (BAC). It can be used anywhere – at home, workplace, etc. It is more helpful when you confirm your blood alcohol levels before starting to home from a party. It is is easy to use an alcohol breathalyzer. However, it should be used as per the instructions properly without which there are chances of false results.

Once you turn on the device, you need to wait for a few minutes to allow it to set to the temperature in order to assure an accurate reading. The device shows a signal that it is ready to use. Then, blow into the device. Ensure that you maintain a long, sharp, and steady breath.

The breathalyzer determines the breath alcohol concentration. Based on certain calculations, blood alcohol concentration levels of an individual are determined from breath alcohol concentration. This processing time varies and it depends on the type of model used. The final result of BAC is displayed as a reading. Today, various advanced models of breathalyzers show a digital display of the BAC levels. Following certain warnings is necessary when using the device. Remember that you should blow in the device for about approximately 4 seconds. Avoid blowing smoke, saliva, or other contaminants into the mouthpiece of the breathalyzer as they may damage the sensor. Now that you know how to use the device, check your blood alcohol levels on your own before driving to be safe and be away from illegal consequences of drunk driving.

Financial Consequences of Drug-Addiction

As per National Institute on Drug Abuse, in United states more than half of the cost of substance abuse is given by the general public. Cost of substance abuse is tend to be passed by substance abusers themselves on to family members, law enforcement efforts, government agencies, social welfare administrators, health care institutions and the victims of their crimes.

Addiction is expensive, the true cost of addiction is not realized because, addiction is a slow tricky drain in friendship, finances, careers and finally life itself.

Money spent: The cost of purchasing alcohol, drugs or even cigarettes may increase cost, and addict cannot save money because he or she has to buy more and more drugs, and the cost of drugs cannot be estimated, as it is impossible to get reliable statistics regarding illicit drugs.

Loss of productivity: This addiction may not stop at high cost, but may reduce chances of promotion, increased absenteeism in work, increase in the risk of unemployment.

Illness: Higher medical bill is caused by drug and alcohol addiction. There is risk of illness because of drug addiction and not only that it may cause long term loss of capacity of earning because of illness, disability and increase in the medical expenditure.

General money problems: The common problems are higher interest rates, bad credit score, late bills. Money will be reduced and debt is increased because buying drugs. It will hurt the users and as well as their family.

Loss of earned income: Addicts may lose jobs and they can not earn money and as well as can not save money. They may lose retirement and social security benefits.

Why Drug Testing?

Drug Addiction is a serious issue. It spoils both the personal and professional life of the abused. In order to save the person from both the cases Drug testing is done. Drug testing requires a lot of investment but the return will be much higher than the investment. The productivity rate increases as there are no drug users in the organization. So, drug testing is done in each and every organization.

• Drug testing at schools: The drug testing is being done in the schools to make the environment drug free. It is a measure to be taken by students and teachers to make their school drug free and also to discourage the use of drugs. The main aim in school drug testing is not to catch the student drug users but to prevent the drug users.
• Drug testing at work places: Drug testing is primarily used for accident prevention and also to increase the productivity at work place.
• Drug testing at homes: Parents are concerned much about the children health. So, they want to test their children and prevent them in using.

Not only schools, colleges, homes each and every where the drug testing is done for preventing the losses.

All About Alcohol Breathalyzer

Breathalyzer is the combination of two words breath and the analyzer. It is generally used for testing the alcohol content in the blood of any person which is known as BAC (Blood alcohol content).It generally indicates the alcohol content in the lungs. The alcohol content in the lungs denotes the alcohol content in the blood.

Breathalyzer gives the exact amount of alcohol content in the body. Even the urine test is also impractical except in the case of BAC.

If a person consumes alcohol it is being absorbed by the mouth, throat, stomach and by the blood stream. Alcohol is not digested in the blood it passes into the lungs and some of the alcohol moves through the membranes of lung called as alveoli and there it evaporates into alveolar air and when that air is exhaled out it is measured through breathalyzer.

Generally it is used for checking in case of driving. If the accident occurs then the police will initially checkout the driver for alcohol consumption. This is done using the breathalyzer equipment. If the concentration of alcohol in blood is detected then he will be jailed. So, these breathalyzers are used in some cases in order to avoid the accidents.

Effects, Myths and Facts Of Prescription Drugs On Teens

Prescription drug abuse is increasing yearly. The present level of abuse of particular prescription drugs bothers NIDA scientists. In 2004, about 15 million Americans of age12 and above which is 6.1 percent of the population used prescription drug for nonmedical purposes, as per the study conducted by the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The prescription drugs which are mostly abused by teens are painkillers, antianxiety medications (benzodiazepines), stimulants, and steroids that are very powerful drugs and pose real health risks.

As per the study conducted by NIDA 2004, 9.3 percent of high school seniors accepted they had abused the painkiller Vicodin, which is an alarming number. Also distracting news is that 7.3 percent of 12th graders had abused benzodiazepines relatively once, 5.1 percent had abused Ritalin, and 5 percent accepted they had abused the powerful pain killer OxyContin. Moreover, teens in some communities are involved in dangerous trading affairs and picks up whatever medications they can find like old prescriptions of their own, pills from their families’ medicine cabinet and exchange them.

Generally teens have many myths regarding prescription drugs. Few of them along with facts are:
Myth: Prescription drugs are prescribed by a doctor and a pharmacy, so they are safe.
Fact: If prescription medications are not taken effectively, sensibly and carefully as how the doctor recommended, prescription medicines may land a person in the emergency room or the mortuary.

Myth: It is fine to use a prescription from the medicine cabinet which was prescribed for other person in my family.
Fact: As the medication has been prescribed, it will not indicate that it is correct and safe for all persons. Most of the prescribed medicines are suitable based on patient’s medical history, weight, allergies, etc. So, others' prescription medicines should never be used. It is not safe and considered as illegal.

Few Tips for Safe Use of Steroids

Some professional athletes and body builders use steroids to improve their performance. Illegal steroid use can cause severe medical problems like hypertension, kidney problems and damage to the heart and liver. Steroid will use also increases the risk of some cancers. Health care professionals generally prescribe the use of steroids in order to treat inflammation and pain related to arthritis and lupus.

• A physician must use steroids only after the prescription. Other uses are considered as illegal, and they have more chances to cause long-term damage to the body. Steroids used by men and women will differ, as the side effects experienced in each of them is not same.
• For patients who require only one dose of steroid medication every day, it should be taken in the morning, since it is the time body usually produces the hormone.
• Single steroid must be taken at a time in recommended dosage of the drug. Overuse of steroids can decrease their performance on the medical condition for which it is being treated. Medication requirements must be adjusted from time to time.
• Other medications must be taken unless physician particularly advises them, because there are many different medications, which interact with steroids. Moreover, some medical conditions can also be troubled by the use of steroids. Using steroid medications frequently weakens the immune system.
• Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids must be increased in diet. It is very essential eat more low-fat, low-calorie and high-density foods, in order to have adequate calories every day to fulfill body's nutritional needs. The inflammatory substances of the omega-3 fatty acids present in these foods decreases chronic pain due to inflammation. This in turn, will decrease the need for prescription steroid medications.

Great Books about Drug Addiction

The authors of these books have helped to educate people on the possible dangers of substance abuse and the damage it can cause with their experiences.

1. The Basketball Diaries (Jim Carroll, Fiction), Carroll's autobiography about growing up with a heroin addiction in 1970's New York City is considered as one of the most terrifying review of hopelessness experienced by young addicts. The story also explained how a strict environment and conflict-filled home life could lead to drug addiction.
2. A Million Little Pieces (James Fry, Memoir/Fiction), initially when author Fry published many fake details of his terrifying experiences, everyone felt that the author had little chances left. But later, research into his story revealed that most of his story was true depicting lifelong battle with drug addiction.
3. Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through his Son's Meth Addiction, A honest book about a father's struggle with his son who is addicted to crystal meth. It is considered as an important reading for a parent whose child is addicted to substance.
4. Go Ask Alice (Anonymous, Memoir) Even today it is considered as classic young-adult literature, which is a fictionalized memoir written in 1971 that explains story of a young teenage girl who becomes addicted to drugs. This book is used for many years as drug awareness publicity as it shows the rapid journey of a person from experimentation to full-length addiction.
5. Junkie/Junky (William S. Burroughs, Memoir), It is a 1953 masterpiece, which is popular even today for the complete description of the day-to-day life of a heroin addict. Burroughs used simple prose to explain the ups and downs of heroin addiction.

Each of the books above has casted an impact on society.

Behavioral signs of drug abuse

I went to my friend's home to meet him after a long time. I was shocked at his behavior. His attitude was changed. There is a lot of change in his activities and hobbies. Earlier he used to love to play games. But now, he looked very Moody, and easily got irritated. I also observed that, he is in anxious state. Earlier, he used to be among top rankers of class and very sharp at general knowledge. Now, with great difficulty he recognized me. He did not pay much attention to what I said and he suffered from forgetfulness. I was surprised when I saw, sudden anger and unfriendly behavior in him, when I asked him why is he like that. I left from there immediately.

Next day, when I met other friend, I described about the incident and his abnormal behavior. He said that, he is consuming drugs and making friendship with new people who are drug users and suddenly avoided all old friends. He said that his performance is totally degraded and not showing any interest in family and family activities. Hearing this I was astonished and came to know the behavioral signs of drug abuse.

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