Correct Question: If the passenger is under 18 and not properly restrained, the will receive the citation and pay the fine and the court costs. 1) a) passenger 2) b) child’s parents 3) c) driver 4) d) all of the above. Correct Question: is a type of drug that induces a soothing, lulling or dulling affect. 1) a) stimulant 2) b) depressant 3) c) narcotic 4) d) hallucinogen. In a flashback, the person is generally aware that they are experiencing a drug-induced effect. If the person has no insight into the drug-induced nature of their symptoms, or if these experiences persist or cause significant distress, they should seek a psychiatric assessment to determine if there is another mental health issue involved, such as psychosis.
Inducing labor, or labor induction, is a procedure in which your doctor or midwife uses methods to help you go into labor. In most cases, it’s best to let labor happen naturally. However, labor induction may be necessary for medical reasons, or if you’re more than two weeks past your due date.
Inducing labor is a subject of controversy, as some women or medical professionals opt for this method without any valid reasons. Talk to your doctor about when labor induction is appropriate in your case, and stick with natural labor whenever possible.
In a perfect world, you will have an easy pregnancy and go into labor right on cue at the 40-week mark. Still, there are some instances that can prevent a natural labor from occurring. Certain medical problems in the mother can make an extended pregnancy risky for her and her baby’s health. These include:
- growth problems in baby
- lack of amniotic fluid surrounding baby
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- preeclampsia
- uterine infection
- placental separation from the uterus
- Rh-blood disease
Inducing labor may also be necessary if your amniotic sac (water) breaks, but you don’t experience contractions. Contractions occur in the uterus, and this indicates that the womb is preparing to dilate the cervix in preparation for birth. Since the amniotic sac holds the baby, a lack of contractions could mean that your body is not preparing for delivery as it should.
You might prefer an induction if you live far from hospital facilities, or have a history of rapid delivery. Inducing labor may also be medically necessary after 42 weeks. At this point, the placenta is no longer capable of providing adequate oxygen and nutrients for your baby.
Methods of labor induction include:
Stripping the Membranes
This technique involves the amniotic sac. Your doctor uses their fingers to push the amniotic sac away from the cervix to strip the membranes. Unlike other forms of labor induction, this method may be done at your doctor’s office. Labor could occur days or even hours later.
Drugs That Soften the Cervix
These drugs are also provided at the hospital and are meant to “ripen the cervix” to encourage delivery. You can take these drugs orally or vaginally.
Medications to Kick-Start Contractions
Pitocin is the most common medication, and it is delivered through an IV. Drug-induced labor can cause stronger than usual contractions, so you should talk to your doctor about pain management techniques ahead of time.
Breaking Water
This technique refers to the forced breakage of the amniotic sac with a small plastic hook so that your baby moves its way to the top of the cervix in preparation for delivery.
Health concerns and extremely long pregnancies are the only reasons why you ought to consider labor induction. Otherwise, inducing labor can have some serious consequences. These include:
- premature birth
- lowered heart rate in babies
- uterine rupture
- infections in both mother and baby
- excessive bleeding in mother
- umbilical cord issues
- lung problems in baby
- a need for a cesarean delivery
- stronger contractions
- vision and hearing problems in baby
- baby’s lungs and brain don’t fully develop
Unless you or your baby’s health is at risk, natural labor is the best decision. The biggest benefit of waiting for labor to naturally occur is that it reduces the risk of complications associated with induced labor. If your doctor is pressuring you because of scheduling dilemmas, you might consider getting a second opinion.
The outlook for labor induction depends largely on the reason it is done, as well as the timing. If labor is induced for medical reasons, then the outlook may be improved concerning the health of both the mother and the baby. On the other hand, labor induced before 39 weeks can lead to more complications than benefits. It is always best to wait as close to your due date whenever possible. Weigh all the benefits versus all the risks with your doctor prior to considering any form of labor induction.
Just because a doctor prescribes a pill doesn’t mean that it’s safe for everyone. As the number of issued prescriptions rises, so do the rates of people misusing prescription drugs.
In a survey conducted in 2015, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 18.9 million Americans aged 12 and older misused prescription drugs in the past year. About 1 percent of Americans aged 12 and older had a prescription drug use disorder.
Drug addiction is a component of drug use disorder. It’s a disease that can affect your brain and behavior, making it difficult to control your use of drugs. Some people become addicted to illicit recreational drugs, such as cocaine or heroin. However, it’s also possible to become addicted to medications that your doctor has prescribed. If you become addicted to a prescription drug, you may compulsively use it, even when it causes you harm.
Some prescription drugs are more addictive than others. Most addictive drugs affect your brain’s reward system by flooding it with dopamine. This results in a pleasurable “high” that can motivate you to take the drug again. Over time, you might become dependent on the drug to feel “good” or “normal.” You might also develop a tolerance to the drug. This can push you to take larger doses.
Read on to begin learning about prescription drugs that are commonly misused.
Opioids produce a euphoric effect. They’re often prescribed for pain. Signs and symptoms of opioid misuse may include:
- euphoria
- changes in behavior or personality
Oxycodone (OxyContin)
Oxycodone is commonly sold under the brand name OxyContin. It’s also sold in combination with acetaminophen as Percocet. It changes how your central nervous system (CNS) responds to pain.
Like heroin, it creates a euphoric, sedative effect. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 58.8 million prescriptions for oxycodone were dispensed in the United States in 2013.
Codeine
Codeine is typically prescribed to treat mild to moderate pain. It’s also combined with other medications to treat cold and flu symptoms. For example, it’s commonly found in prescription-strength cough syrup.
When consumed in high quantities, codeine-based cough syrup has a sedative effect. It can also cause altered levels of consciousness. It provides the base for an illicit drug concoction known as “purple drank,” “sizzurp,” or “lean.” This concoction also contains soda and sometimes candy.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It’s prescribed for acute and chronic pain, typically in people with cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , it’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It creates feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
Fentanyl is also illegally manufactured and sold as an illicit recreational drug. In many cases, it’s mixed with heroin, cocaine, or both. In October 2017, the CDC reported that fentanyl is involved in over half of opioid-related overdose deaths across 10 states.
In addition to the common signs and symptoms associated with opioid misuse, fentanyl misuse may also lead to hallucinations and bad dreams.
Meperidine (Demerol)
Meperidine is a synthetic opioid. It’s often sold under the brand name Demerol. It’s typically used to treat moderate to severe pain. Like other opioids, it produces feelings of euphoria.
According to the CDC , 2,666 Americans died in 2011 from drug poisoning that involved opioid painkillers other than methadone, such as meperidine or fentanyl.
Opioid withdrawal
If you’re addicted to opioids, you’ll likely develop withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them. Withdrawal symptoms may include:
- drug cravings
- agitation or irritability
- digestive problems
CNS depressants include barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They’re also called tranquillizers and have a calming effect. Signs and symptoms of misuse include:
- drowsiness
- lethargy
- irritability
- confusion
- dizziness
- headache
- changes in vision
- nausea
- vomiting
- changes in behavior or personality
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine. It’s commonly sold under the brand name Xanax. It’s prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It depresses your CNS, which has a calming effect. Some people misuse it for its fast-acting sedating effects.
According to the CDC, more than four times as many Americans died in 2015 than 2002 from overdoses that involved benzodiazepines. In many of those cases, people died after combining benzodiazepines with opioids.
Additional signs and symptoms of alprazolam misuse include trouble sleeping, swelling of the hands or feet, and tremors.
Clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepam (Valium)
Clonazepam and diazepam are benzodiazepines. They’re used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. They’re also used to treat seizures. Clonazepam is commonly sold under the brand name Klonopin. Diazepam is commonly sold as Valium.
Like Xanax, these drugs are often misused for their sedative effects. They produce “highs” that can feel similar to the effects of alcohol. For example, they can cause feelings of drunkenness, talkativeness, and relaxation.
It’s not uncommon for people to recreationally misuse Xanax, Klonopin, or Valium in combination with other drugs. According to the CDC, the number of overdose deaths that involved both benzodiazepines and opioids more than quadrupled between 2002 and 2015.
Potential signs and symptoms of clonazepam or diazepam misuse may also include:
- hallucinations
- constipation
Withdrawal from CNS depressants
If you’re addicted to CNS depressants, you’ll likely develop withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them. Withdrawal symptoms may include:
- drug cravings
- excessive sweating
- headache
- trouble sleeping
- nausea
Stimulants increase your brain activity. This helps boost your alertness and energy levels. Signs and symptoms of misuse include:
- euphoria
- aggressiveness or hostility
- paranoia
- hallucinations
- dilated pupils
- changes in vision
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- changes in behavior or personality
Amphetamine (Adderall)
Amphetamine is commonly known as “speed.” It’s a CNS stimulant. It’s used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
Products that contain amphetamine are often misused for their energizing effects. For example, Adderall is a product that combines amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It’s often misused by people are sleep-deprived, such as truck drivers, shift workers, and college students working on deadlines. According to a study from the University of Michigan, 9 percent of college students in 2012 reported misusing Adderall.
In addition to the typical signs of stimulant misuse, amphetamine misuse may also be characterized by:
- increased energy and alertness
- increased body temperature
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Similar to Adderall, methylphenidate is a stimulant that affects your CNS. It’s commonly sold under the brand name Ritalin. It increases levels of dopamine in the brain, which helps improve attention. It’s used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Like other stimulants, it can be habit-forming.
One reason that Ritalin and other prescription stimulants are commonly misused is their availability. According to the DEA, more than 13 million prescriptions for methylphenidate were filled in 2012.
Methylphenidate misuse may also lead to agitation or trouble sleeping.
Withdrawal from stimulants
If you’re addicted to stimulants, you may develop withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them. Withdrawal symptoms may include:
- drug cravings
- anxiety
- extreme fatigue
Prescription drug addiction can negatively affect your health. It can also put you at risk of a fatal overdose. Drug addiction can also put a strain on your finances and relationships.
Do you suspect that someone you love is misusing prescription medications? It’s important for them to get professional help. Their doctor or mental health specialist might recommend counseling. They might also refer your loved one to an intensive rehabilitation program. In some cases, they might prescribe medications to help curb drug cravings or relieve symptoms of withdrawal.
If you suspect that someone you love has a prescription drug addiction, there are ways that you can help.
How to Help
- Look for credible information about prescription drug addiction. Learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment options.
- Tell your loved one that you’re concerned about their drug use. Let them know that you want to help them find professional support.
- Encourage your loved one to make an appointment with their doctor, a mental health specialist, or an addiction treatment center.
- Consider joining a support group for friends and family members of people with drug addictions. Your fellow group members can offer social support as you strive to cope with your loved one’s addiction.
For more information on drug addiction, including potential treatment options, visit these websites: