US Threatens Assange over Cable Leaks

According to a Washington Post article released tonight, US Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are searching for a way to charge Wikileaks' Julian Assange under the Espionage Act, or probably any other act they can find that might fit. They sure do want the people to live in the dark or accept what they say as gospel! Read the article in the Post HERE.

I have read through many of the leaked cables. The main question that I have at this point is what type of classification system are these people using? The cables designated as secret and those categorized as confidential that I have read just do not fit the bill. I am feeling that they classify this stuff as secret and confidential just so no one can read it and not for any real reasoning at all. So one diplomat is gossiping about another – that falls in the category of embarrassing; not espionage. I am openly questioning the system of classification used by government officials and diplomats.

Anyone that regularly reads this blog knows that I quit participating in the vote anyway, but it seems that the Obama administration has forgotten promises of accountability and open government. They seem to consider all of us kindergarteners that can't handle reading a little bit of their embarrassing gossip.

Make sure that if you do vote in the U.S. you select your candidates cautiously, and anyone that advocates charging Assange under the Espionage Act or any other act should be OUT – if you appreciate the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

New Research: a New Factor Influences the Probability of Teen Drug Abuse

Over the years there has been an increase in substance abuse which has led to an increase in substance and drug addiction. As teens begin to abuse substances more often, parents are beginning to wonder what influences teen drug use. Many factors can influence the likelihood of a teen experimenting with drugs. New research has found a new factor that is not commonly heard of in most of the information currently available.

The national center on Addiction and Substance abuse at Columbia University has found new research which identifies a new factor that can influence teenage substance abuse. According to the new research, family dinners can influence the probability of a teen using drugs. When teens who have family dinner often, five to seven times a week, are compared to teens who have family dinner infrequently, less than three times a week, the findings show that the teens who have dinner infrequently are twice as likely to expect to try drugs in the future. Seventy-two percent of teens believe that having frequent family dinners is important. Teens that do not often have family dinners are found to be twice as likely to have used tobacco, twice as likely to have used alcohol, and one and a half time likelier to have smoked marijuana. Teens that have family dinners are less likely to have friends who participate in substance abuse.

If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription drug abuse or addiction and is in need of help, Inspirations Teen Rehab offers a flexible and affordable teen addiction treatment program. Our aim is to treat the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom. During the addiction treatment process we will work with the teen to identify the factors that may have contributed to the prescription drug abuse and addiction – home, friends and medical history. We also believe that families have a vital role to play in the recovery process, and each addiction treatment program has a place for family participation, to educate them in the treatment process and to equip them for their role as supporters.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237

http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/

http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Teens Abusing Depressants

Teens usually abuse depressants to experience euphoria. Depressants are also used with other drugs to add to the other drugs' high or to deal with their side effects. Teen abusers take higher doses than people taking the drugs under a doctor's supervision for therapeutic purposes.

When a teen abuses depressants their mental functioning and judgment are impaired causing confusion and amnesia. Therefore, teens abusing depressants will have no recollection or events that occurred while under the influence. So, many times you will see the misuse of depressants to facilitate sexual assault. Also, abuse of depressants reduces the teen's reaction time.

Teens can rapidly develop dependence on and tolerance to depressants, meaning you need more and more of them to feel and function normally. This makes them unsafe, increasing the likelihood of coma or death.

As the abuse of depressants can relax the muscles, unwanted physical effects may occur, such as: slurred speech, lack of coordination, weakness, headache, lightheadedness, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and slowed breathing. Unlike barbiturates, large doses of benzodiazepines are rarely fatal unless combined with other drugs or alcohol. But unlike the withdrawal syndrome seen with most other drugs of abuse, withdrawal from depressants can be life threatening.

High doses of depressants or use of them with alcohol or other drugs can slow heart rate and breathing enough to cause death.

Common Depressants: Valium®, Halcion®, Ativan®, Klonopin®, Restoril® and Rohypnol®

Depressants Street Names: Barbs, Benzos, Downers, Georgia Home Boy, GHB, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X, Nerve Pills, Phennies, R2, Reds, Roofies, Rophies, Tranks, Yellows

In the early stages of drug use/abuse it is difficult to separate typical adolescent behavior from chemically induced behavior. Some teens may not show obvious symptoms even in more advanced stages, and the parent may only sense something is wrong. Most teens, however, will exhibit many of the signs above, which can develop over a period of a few months or years. If you sense something is not right with your teen, we recommend that you take action to prevent a tragic outcome. Teen addiction and behavioral problems can be so severe that they can only be properly addressed with professional help in a controlled environment, such as our Teen Residential Addiction Treatment Center and Specialty School/Academy.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Teen Cocaine Abuse and Addiction Treatment

Cocaine Street Names:Coca, Coke, Crack, Flake, Snow, Soda Cot, Blow, C, Marching powder, Nose candy

Cocaine is a strong addictive stimulant that produces an intense euphoria. Teens can abuse cocaine by snorting or injecting it into the veins after dissolving the powder in water. They can also abuse cocaine/crack by smoking it alone or mixing it with either marijuana or tobacco. Teens also abuse cocaine in combination with an opiate, like heroin, a practice known as "speedballing." Although injecting into veins or muscles, snorting, and smoking are the common ways of using cocaine, all mucous membranes readily absorb cocaine. Cocaine users typically binge on the drug until they are exhausted or run out of cocaine.

The intensity of cocaine’s euphoric effects depends on how quickly the drug reaches the brain, which depends on the dose and method of abuse. Following smoking or intravenous injection, cocaine reaches the brain in seconds, with a rapid buildup in levels. This results in a rapid-onset, intense euphoric effect known as a “rush.” By contrast, the euphoria caused by snorting cocaine is less intense and does not happen as quickly due to the slower build-up of the drug in the brain. Other effects include increased alertness and excitation, as well as restlessness, irritability, and anxiety in some users. Physiological effects of cocaine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dilated pupils, insomnia and loss of appetite. The widespread abuse of highly pure street cocaine has led to many severe adverse health consequences such as cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart conditions, sudden cardiac arrest, convulsions, strokes and death. In some users, the long-term use of inhaled cocaine has led to a unique respiratory syndrome, and chronic snorting of cocaine has led to the erosion of the upper nasal cavity.

Tolerance to cocaine’s effects develops rapidly, causing users to take higher and higher doses. Taking high doses of cocaine or prolonged use, such as binging, usually causes paranoia. The crash that follows euphoria is characterized by mental and physical exhaustion, sleep, and depression lasting several days. Following the crash, users experience a craving to use cocaine again.

Overdose effects include agitation, increased body temperature, hallucinations, convulsions and possible death.

In the early stages of drug use/abuse it is difficult to separate typical adolescent behavior from chemically induced behavior. Some teens may not show obvious symptoms even in more advanced stages, and the parent may only sense something is wrong. Most teens, however, will exhibit many of the signs above, which can develop over a period of a few months or years. If you sense something is not right with your teen, we recommend that you take action to prevent a tragic outcome. Teen addiction and behavioral problems can be so severe that they can only be properly addressed with professional help in a controlled environment, such as our Teen Residential Addiction Treatment Center and Specialty School/Academy.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237 http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Most Popular Prescription Drugs Abused by Teens

According to Prescription Drug Abuse, prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, running a close second behind marijuana and well ahead of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. In 2000, about 43 percent of emergency room visits for drug overdoses occurred because of the misuse of prescription drugs. The top 10 most abused prescription drugs may be listed in differing order depending on the statistical information used.

Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone belongs to the class of drugs called opioids, which are used for pain control in individuals who have moderate to severe pain. Opioids can be taken by mouth, crushed and snorted or injected. A number of deaths have been reported with injection of drugs intended for slow release in the body such as OxyContin, which is a derivative of hydrocodone. Opioids may cause constipation and drowsiness and can depress the rate of breathing and lead to death.

Codeine
Codeine is another opioid. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), codeine may cause respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation and coma. The Drug Enforcement Administration says codeine is the most widely used narcotic in medical treatment and is one of the starting materials used to develop hydrocodone. It is usually taken in pill form and can be found in combination with acetaminophen or aspirin or as a cough suppressant in liquid form.

"Xanax"
"Xanax" is used for anxiety disorders, panic disorders and anxiety caused by depression. Drinking alcohol with "Xanax" increases the effects of the alcohol. According to drugs.com, "Xanax" is habit forming and should never be prescribed for people with a history of abuse or addiction to prescription drugs. Side effects can include risk-taking behavior, depression, hyperactivity, light-headedness, seizures, muscle twitching, jaundice and less frequent urination.

Adderall
Adderall is another stimulant that gained national attention when the son of former Vice President Al Gore was arrested for possessing Adderall, marijuana and Valium. Adderall is used to get a speedy high or "pull an all-nighter" to study.

Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant designed to increase alertness, attention and energy. It is commonly prescribed to children who have attention deficit disorder but is now a drug of choice among college students who are interested in staying up longer and studying harder. According to NIDA, the medication is usually taken orally, but people also dissolve it and inject the solution. However, it contains insoluble fillers that can block small blood vessels and cause tissue death.

Valium
Valium is the registered brand name of Diazepam. It is an anti-anxiety drug that changes the chemical balance in the brain and is often prescribed for alcohol withdrawal, shakiness, agitation and muscle pain. According to Prescription Drug Abuse, it is very common and easy to obtain. The body builds up a tolerance over just one month. Symptoms of abuse depend upon how long and at what level the person has been using the drug.

If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription drug abuse or addiction and is in need of help, Inspirations Teen Rehab offers a flexible and affordable teen addiction treatment program. Our aim is to treat the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom. During the addiction treatment process we will work with the teen to identify the factors that may have contributed to the prescription drug abuse and addiction – home, friends and medical history. We also believe that families have a vital role to play in the recovery process, and each addiction treatment program has a place for family participation, to educate them in the treatment process and to equip them for their role as supporters.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237 http://www.inspirationsyouth.comhttp//www.inspirationsteenrehab.com

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com[/b]

Diagnosing and Treating Teen Behavior Problems

For most parents and professionals, it is comforting to have a point at which teen problematic behavior can be identified or diagnosed. For most people, this denotes the beginning of the search to find a solution and an understanding of the behavior. For insurance companies and subsequently, mental health professionals and medical doctors, a diagnosis is necessary to establish a basis for which insurance payment for treatment or therapeutic services can be granted. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder, are commonly diagnosed disorders for teenage behavioral problems. There are other disorders associated with behavioral issues such as Adjustment Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).


A diagnosis is not the only source or beginning point for which teens, parents, and professionals begin to work toward a solution. Therapeutic approaches such as Solution Focused Therapy, Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psychotherapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (to name a few), are also the first steps towards solutions and healing for everyone involved.

TEEN BEHAVIOR TREATMENT PROGRAM
Inspirations Teen Rehab has created a behavioral treatment program for teens and families. The behavior treatment program includes therapeutic methods and skill building activities that are effective in working with adolescents:

• Psychotherapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Trauma Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Recreational Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Anger Management Skills
• Stress Management Skills
• Coping Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Motivational Skills
• Communication Skills
• Team Building Skills
• Life Skills

• Physical Exercise Program
• Therapeutic High School Academic Program

Reach out to us. If the information you are looking for is not found here contact us:

Teen Addiction and Behavior Problems Help: 1-888-757-6237 http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Addiction and Behavior Problems Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

The Ahmed Ghailani Verdict

The Ghailani indictment is one more that originated in the Southern District of New York (SDNY). If you have read some of my past posts here, you're familiar with my opinion of the federal prosecutors in the SDNY. Ahmed Ghailani was indicted in December of 1998 on a total of 308 counts and with a list of co-defendants that includes Usama bin Laden. To summarize the charges, Ghailani was accused of being a participant in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in East Africa. He was apprehended in 2004 in Pakistan.

I do not pretend to know the real facts in the case and to be honest, I have not read the 149 page indictment, but this isn't really about the details of the case anyway; it is about the extreme overkill and sensationalism exhibited by prosecutors in this case and most all other War on Terror cases and the use of torture to obtain a false confession. It is also about the future of War on Terror prosecutions. The indictment can be read HERE.

News articles state that Ghailani was charged with 285 counts, and not 308, so I must believe that 1) 23 counts were dismissed prior to trial; or 2) Ghailani was not charged with all of the counts that his co-defendants were charged with.

The New York jury acquitted Ahmed Ghailani on all counts except for one: Conspiracy to destroy U.S. property.

While this sounds like a victory of sorts, he will end-up receiving the lengthiest possible sentence on the one count and is unlikely to ever be released from U.S. custody anyway. What is significant in the case is that the jurors were instructed to throw out any evidence that the court deemed inadmissible because it was obtained through illegal torture. Is there legal torture? Hell, I am just using the court's wording.

The victory in this case is that a New York court, and obviously the presiding judge, has stated clearly that evidence obtained through torture is not evidence at all. False confessions will not be accepted!

I'm not even going to name the judge as the angry, torture-happy warmongers out there will need to find it on their own.

What U.S. military interrogators and U.S. prosecutors must have done to this man is unimaginable to me. We must appreciate the jury for acquitting Ghailani on all but the one count. I am only sorry that they couldn't acquit him on that one count also to send a clear message to U.S. prosecutors and the U.S. military forces that torture will not get them what they want and it is 100% unacceptable in a so-called free country. I only wish they had considered how important that message would have been to the entire world – forget the blood-thirsty warmongers I seem to encounter all too frequently. Just forget them because they do not deserve a minute of my valuable time.


Now for the real problem with the verdict:

The usual hard-liners will fight tooth and nail to make sure that there will never be another War on Terror trial in U.S. courts again. Every future case will be tried by a military commission. As with the Omar Khadr case and so many others torture will be absolutely acceptable to the warmongers in a military commission trial. And I have little doubt that the Obama administration and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will help the military keep the cases in its kangaroo courtrooms.

I feel good that a New York federal judge and a jury have decided that torture is not acceptable. The rest of it is another story…


Image: Old globe and Iraq 2007 © Marty Heitner / 2010 © iStockPhoto.com