The most common way of getting addicts into a drug rehab treatment center is by holding a drug intervention. An intervention is when the family and close friends of the addict gather together to address the addiction problem. Often, a trained professional is on hand to help guide the intervention and make sure that it does not take a negative turn and results in the addict entering a drug treatment program. While heroin can be sniffed, snorted or smoked, most users inject the drug into a muscle or vein. Heroin facts show that pregnant women who share needles are at risk of contracting HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and passing it on to their babies. Cocaine hydrochloride, the form in which cocaine is snorted or injected is often "cut," or mixed, with things that look like it. The final product can be from 1% to 95% pure. Common additives are sugars, such as mannitol, lactose, or glucose, or even sugar substitutes, and local anesthetics such as tetracaine, procaine, and lidocaine. Quinine, talc, and cornstarch have also been used. Some consumers may unknowingly purchase a supply without any cocaine, but just a cocaine substitute such as caffeine, amphetamine, PCP, procaine, and lidocaine. Previously available only on the black market for thousands of dollars, the recipe for meth is now accessible free of charge on the Internet. Using common cold medicines such as pseudoephedrine and ephedrine combined with other substances, meth can be made by anyone, almost anywhere. Meth labs have been set up in bedrooms, back yards, trailers, bathtubs, storage units and vans. |
