(StatePoint)

 If you’re like many Americans, you may think of methamphetamine, or meth, as just a subject of television dramas. But what you may not realize is that the increasing use of this illegal and highly dangerous drug could be hurting your own community. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), meth use is on the rise -- 439,000 Americans ages 12 and older abused the drug in 2011. Aside from obvious health risks, long-term use of the drug can lead to aggressive behavior, violent crime and domestic disputes. And making meth involves mixing unstable materials leading to fires, explosions and the creation of toxic chemicals. These concerns, along with the cost of addiction, drug treatment and hazardous waste cleanup, are putting undue economic strain on communities as well as on federal, state and local governments. But luckily, there are steps everyone can take to help make their communities safer and decrease drug-related incidents.

Treat Congestion Differently

If you suffer from colds or allergies, you have probably noticed the effects of the 2005 Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which limited the amount of pseudoephedrine (PSE) products you can buy and moved them behind pharmacy counters. Now, thanks to new technologies emerging in the fight against meth, cold and allergy sufferers will soon be able to purchase medicine designed to help make communities safer. For example, Acura Pharmaceuticals, a company whose sole focus is to improve medicines with unique technologies to address abuse and misuse, is launching Nexafed 30mg pseudoephedrine HCl tablets. Nexafed, which is as effective as leading PSE products at providing nasal congestion relief, has the added benefit of patent-pending Impede technology, a proprietary mixture of inactive ingredients that disrupts the ability to extract and convert PSE into methamphetamine. Opting for such a medication over many traditional PSE treatments is one big step to limit the availability of a crucial meth ingredient locally. More information is available at www.acurapharm.com.

Check Your Medicine Cabinet

Meth’s ease of availability stems in part from the fact that it can be made at home using PSE extracted from currently available decongestants, along with common household products. So when you’re cleaning out your medicine cabinet, do so carefully. Take your expired cold and flu medications, as well as prescription drugs, to your pharmacy or to a local take-back event. To learn more about these events, visit, www.takebacknetwork.com.

Talk to Your Kids

Healthy decisions start at home. Have a dialogue with your children about the dangers of drug abuse. Encourage them to get involved in activities like sports and music, especially if your work day ends after school ends. Check in with them daily. Dinner around the table is an excellent opportunity for conversation. Even if dangerous drug abuse seems like a remote problem to you, the production, sale and use of methamphetamine has ramifications that hurt everyone. This is why experts are advising local communities to get involved in fighting back.

(StatePoint)

You may have heard the term COPD before -- either in a radio or television commercial. COPD, short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a serious lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe. Also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, it is the third leading cause of death in the United States, but as many as 12 million Americans don’t even know they have it. Unfortunately, symptoms are often shrugged off as a normal part of getting older or a consequence of being out of shape. And during cold and flu season, COPD symptoms can also be mistaken for that cold or cough that just won’t go away.  But COPD can be a dangerous health hazard. If left untreated, it can have debilitating effects on everyday activities. Affecting one in five adults in the U.S. over the age of 45 and an estimated 24 million Americans, as many as half remain undiagnosed. In people who have COPD, the airway tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs are partially blocked, making it hard to breathe.  The disease develops slowly and usually worsens over time. So don’t ignore the first signs of COPD, which include a chronic cough, hacking, wheezing and shortness of breath. COPD occurs most often in people age 40 and over with a history of smoking, affecting both current and former smokers. However, as many as one out of six people with COPD have never smoked. Other risk factors include long-term exposure to second hand smoke, certain chemicals, and dust or fumes in the workplace. In some people, COPD can be caused by a genetic condition known as alpha-1 antitrypsin, or AAT, deficiency. “While there is no cure for COPD -- early diagnosis and treatment can help people with the disease improve their symptoms and get back to the things they love doing,” said James P. Kiley, PhD. Director, Division of Lung Diseases, at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. “As we head into the colder months, take the first step to breathing better. Learn more about COPD and schedule an appointment to talk with your doctor or health care provider about your lungs.” COPD can usually be diagnosed by a doctor or health care provider during a regular office visit with a simple, non-invasive breathing test called spirometry. If you or a loved one experiences any of the symptoms of COPD, take some time to learn more about it. Visit http://COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov for more information. With proper diagnosis and treatment, people with COPD can live longer and improve their quality of life.

(StatePoint)

 As more of our communications take place over the Internet, it’s no wonder that an ever-growing number of singles are meeting each other through online dating services. In fact, Online Dating Magazine estimated in 2011 that more than 280,000 marriages a year are a direct result of people meeting online. “While your soul mate could be only a few clicks away, there are risks associated with online dating,” warns Lis Wiehl, Fox News Legal Analyst and author of the recently released novel, “Darkness Rising,” of the East Salem trilogy. “From financial scammers to criminals, strangers on the Internet are just that -- strangers.” Wiehl’s novels are inspired by her former work as a federal prosecutor and her current role as a television journalist covering some of the most shocking crimes. An expert in sniffing out the bad guys, she advises daters to proceed with caution before taking online relationships offline.

Men and women alike should take precautionary measures to help avoid dangerous dating circumstances:

 • Meet your date at the venue rather than have he or she pick you up -- you don’t need a stranger to know where you live.

• Choose well-populated public places to meet. Let a friend know where you are going. It may sound overly cautious, but it doesn’t hurt to share your date’s contact information and name as well.

• Avoid exchanging too much personal information right off the bat, such as your last name and place of work. Get to know someone first.

• Listen to your gut. If something feels off, be polite, but end the evening early.

• Don’t believe everything you read. It is entirely legal to lie on an Internet dating site about one’s height, weight, age and financial status. If you meet someone whose description doesn't match reality, you should wonder whether your “match” would also lie about things you can't see on the surface. Be especially cautious if someone seems “too good to be true.”

• Unfortunately not everyone on dating sites is looking for love. Financial scammers prey upon lonely hearts. Don’t become a victim. If you’re dating someone who suddenly starts hitting you up for cash, end it. For more information about Lis Wiehl’s novels and nonfiction titles, visit www.LisWiehlBooks.com. “Bottom line on online dating: be smart, be careful and above all, be yourself,” says Wiehl.