PICTURE OF NORTHERN NIGERIA BORDER.

This is actually Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic, at a small border town called Birnin Kuka in the North-Western state of Katsina. The person on the left wearing red and white trousers is an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)... And what you’re thinking at this moment is right on point: the tree logs in the pictures literally DEMARCATE Nigeria from Niger Republic; crossing the logs means you’ve crossed over to the other country!  A Border indeed!

Rohypnol: The Date Rape Drug!

What is Rohypnol?

Rohypnol is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine with general properties similar to those of Valium (diazepam). It is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia, as a pre-medication in surgical procedures and for inducing anaesthesia.

Generic name: flunitrazepam
Brand Names: Rohypnol, others; not available legally in U.S. but is  available in other countries. Common or street names: forget me drug, roches, roofies, ruffles; other names include date rape drug, la roche, R2, rib, roach, roofenol, rope, rophies, the forget pill, getting roached, lunch money drug, Mexican Valium, pingus, Reynolds, Robutal, wolfies.

Like other benzodiazepines (such as Valium, Librium and Xanax), Rohypnol's effects include sedation, muscle relaxation, reduction in anxiety, and prevention of convulsions. However, Rohypnol's sedative effects are approximately 7 to 10 times stronger than Valium. The effects of Rohypnol appear 15 to 20 minutes after administration and last approximately four to six hours. Some residual effects can be found 12 hours or more after administration.

Since the 1990s Rohypnol has been used illegally to lessen the depression caused by the abuse of stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, and also as an aid for sexual assault. The so-called “date-rape drug” was placed unknowingly in the drinks of victims, often at a bar or party (“club drug”). Due to the strong amnesia produced by the drug, victims would have limited or no recollection of the assault.1

Important information about Rohypnol

Rohypnol is not approved for medical use or manufactured in the United States and is not available legally. However, it is legally prescribed in over 60 other countries and is widely available in Mexico, Colombia, and Europe where it is used for the treatment of insomnia and as a pre-anesthetic. Therefore, it was placed into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act in 1984 due to international treaty obligations and remains under that classification. Schedule IV drugs are considered to have a lower abuse potential but can lead to physical or psychological dependence. The penalties associated with the possession, trafficking, and distribution of Rohypnol are equivalent to those of a Schedule I substance (Schedule I substances include heroin, marijuana, and MDMA).1

Rohypnol causes partial amnesia; individuals are unable to remember certain events that they experience while under the influence of the drug. This effect is particularly dangerous when Rohypnol is used to aid in the commission of sexual assault; victims may not be able to clearly recall the assault, the assailant, or the events surrounding the assault.

Rohypnol use in the US, according to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey, has increased by 0.2 percent since 2009. However, use has been relatively stable from 1999 to 2010, with yearly use estimates ranging from 0.6 to 0.9 percent of 8th to 12th grade respondents.2

It is difficult to estimate the number of Rohypnol-facilitated rapes in the United States. Very often, biological samples are taken from the victim at a time when the effects of the drug have already passed and only residual amounts remain in the body fluids. These residual amounts are difficult, if not impossible, to detect using standard screening assays available in the United States. If Rohypnol exposure is to be detected at all, urine samples need to be collected within 72 hours and subjected to sensitive analytical tests. The problem is compounded by the onset of amnesia after ingestion of the drug, which causes the victim to be uncertain about the facts surrounding the rape. This uncertainty may lead to critical delays or even reluctance to report the rape and to provide appropriate biological samples for toxicology testing.

Rohypnol, previously available as a white tablet that dissolved without color or taste, is now formulated as a caplet that is light green with a blue core. The manufacturer instituted this change to help identify tampered drinks at clubs. When dissolved in clear liquids the blue core will turn the clear liquid to blue. However, when dissolved in darker-colored liquids, the blue dye may not be noticeable. Generic versions of Rohypnol may not contain the blue dye.

Abuse Potential

While Rohypnol has become widely known for its use as a date-rape drug, it is abused more frequently for other reasons. It is abused by high school students, college students, street gang members, rave party attendees, and heroin and cocaine abusers to produce profound intoxication, boost the high of heroin, and modulate the effects of cocaine.

Teenagers and young males age 13 to 30 have been noted as the primary abusers of Rohypnol.1 Rohypnol is usually consumed orally, and is often combined with alcohol. It may also be abused by crushing tablets and snorting the powder, or by dissolving prior to injection. Rohypnol abuse causes a number of adverse effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, loss of motor control, lack of coordination, slurred speech, confusion, and gastrointestinal disturbances, lasting 12 or more hours. Higher doses may produce respiratory depression.
Chronic  Effect

Chronic use of Rohypnol can result in physical dependence and the appearance of a withdrawal syndrome when the drug is discontinued. Rohypnol impairs cognitive and psychomotor functions affecting reaction time and driving skill. The use of this drug in combination with alcohol is a particular concern as both central nervous system depressants potentiate each other's toxicity. Injection of any illegal drug puts the user at risk of contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne illnesses.

Thierry Henry becomes a Muslim.

In an interview with Soccer World, June 2006, Thierry Henry refused to state his religion. Various rumor mills postulate that he is either Roman Catholic or Muslim. The French Antilles are almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholics the largest portion, and voodoo is still practiced throughout the region. Claims that he is Muslim are unlikely to be true. 

The following are the conversation of Thierry Henry and an Al jazeera Reporter translated from French to English.

The French footballer Thierry Henry, who played in one of the world’s most famous clubs and is still a member of the French national squad, tells al-Jazeera how he became a Muslim. "Since many friends of mine, who I feel very close to converting to Islam, as PhilippeChristanval, Nicholas Anelka, Peter Luccin, Eric Abidal, Franck Ribery, Didier andDomy, I do not know how to explain but I felt very close to Islam, I consider religion is best for me if ever I were to convert to a religion, and virtually all its rites.

That's why I consider religion with which I have more affinity [literal translation: religion closest to my heart.

But against, Islam says that human beings must first believe, and I now I have not announced anything, but I understand Islam more than any other religion. It is indeedsad to see many people who have no desire to understand Islam.

They believe that Muslims are terrorists, an idea that some are trying to make and I think it's really sad, because the reality is very different. I know some things aboutIslam, and I think it is far from that image. A Muslim is above all a being with a big heart.

It is also sad to see that some cases are used globally by some to get the wrong message, and I do not know why.

And I always say, if a person believes in god, it must also believe in the Koran and the last messenger. "

Schizophrenia : Symptoms,Prevention and Treatment.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It is most commonly manifests as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social or occupational dysfunction. 

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that makes it difficult to:

·         Tell the difference between real and unreal experiences

·         Think logically

·         Have normal emotional responses,

·         Behave normally in social situations

·          

Signs and symptoms

A person diagnosed with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations (most reported are hearing voices), delusions (often bizarre or persecutory in nature), and disorganized thinking and speech. The latter may range from loss of train of thought, to sentences only loosely connected in meaning, to incoherence known as word salad in severe cases. Social withdrawal, sloppiness of dress and hygiene, and loss of motivation and judgement are all common in schizophrenia. There is often an observable pattern of emotional difficulty, for example lack of responsiveness. Impairment in social cognition is associated with schizophrenia, as are symptoms of paranoia; social isolation commonly occurs. In one uncommon subtype, the person may be largely mute, remain motionless in bizarre postures, or exhibit purposeless agitation, all signs of catatonia.

Schizophrenia symptoms usually develop slowly over months or years. Sometimes you may have many symptoms, and at other times you may only have a few.

People with any type of schizophrenia may have difficulty keeping friends and working. They may also have problems with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

At first, you may have the following symptoms:

·         Irritable or tense feeling

·         Difficulty sleeping

·         Difficulty concentrating

As the illness continues, problems with thinking, emotions and behavior develop, including:

·         Lack of emotion (flat affect)

·         Strongly held beliefs that are not based in reality (delusions)

·         Hearing or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)

·         Problems paying attention

·         Thoughts "jump" between unrelated topics ( “loose associations”)

·         Bizarre behaviors

·         Social isolation

Symptoms can vary, depending on the type of schizophrenia you have.

Paranoid schizophrenia symptoms may include:

·         Anxious

·         Angry or argumentative

·         False believes that others are trying to harm you or your loved ones.

Disorganized schizophrenia symptoms may include:

·         Problems with thinking and expressing ideas clearly

·         Childlike behavior

·         Showing little emotion

Catatonic schizophrenia symptoms may include:

·         Lack of activity

·         Muscles and posture may be rigid

·         Grimaces or other odd expressions on the face

·         Does not respond much to other people

Undifferentiated schizophrenia symptoms may include symptoms of more than one other type of schizophrenia.

People with residual schizophrenia have some symptoms, but not as many as those who are in a full-blown episode of schizophrenia.

Signs and tests

There are no medical tests to diagnose schizophrenia. A psychiatrist should examine the patient to make the diagnosis. The diagnosis is made based on a thorough interview of the person and family members. The doctor will ask questions about:

·         How long the symptoms have lasted

·         How the person's ability to function has changed

·         Developmental background

·         Genetic and family history

·         How well medications have worked

Brain scans (such as CT or MRI) and blood tests may help to rule out other disorders that have similar symptoms to schizophrenia.

Treatment

During an episode of schizophrenia, you may need to stay in the hospital for safety reasons.

MEDICATIONS

Antipsychotic medications are the most effective treatment for schizophrenia. They change the balance of chemicals in the brain and can help control symptoms/

These medications are usually helpful, but they can cause side effects. Many of these side effects can be improved, and should not prevent people from seeking treatment for this serious condition.

Common side effects from antipsychotics may include:

·         Sleepiness (sedation)

·         Dizziness

·         Weight gain

·         Increased chance of diabetes and high cholesterol

·         Feelings of restlessness or "jitters"

·         Slowed movements

·         Tremor

Long-term use of antipsychotic medications may increase your risk for a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. This condition causes repeated movements that you cannot control, especially around the mouth. Call your doctor right away if you think you may have this condition.

When schizophrenia does not improve with several antipsychotics, the medication clozapine can be helpful. Clozapine is the most effective medication for reducing schizophrenia symptoms, but it also tends to cause more side effects than other antipsychotics.

Schizophrenia is a life-long illness. Most people with this condition need to stay on antipsychotic medication for life.

SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND THERAPIES

Supportive therapy may be helpful for many people with schizophrenia. Behavioral techniques, such as social skills training, can be used to improve social and work functioning. Job-training and relationship building classes are important.

Family members of a person with schizophrenia should be educated about the disease and offered support. Programs that emphasize outreach and community support services can help people who lack family and social support.

Family members and caregivers are often encouraged to help people with schizophrenia stick to their treatment.

It is important that the person with schizophrenia learns how to:

·         Take medications correctly and how to manage side effects

·         Notice the early signs of a relapse and what to do if symptoms return

·         Cope with symptoms that occur even while taking medication. A therapist can help.

·         Manage money

·         Use public transportation

·          

Complications

Having schizophrenia increases your risk for:

·         Developing a problem with alcohol or drugs: This is called a substance abuse problem. Using alcohol or other drugs increases the chances your symptoms will return.

·         Physical illness: People with schizophrenia may become physically sick, because of an inactive lifestyle and side effects from medication. A physical illness may not be detected because of poor access to medical care and difficulties talking to health care providers.

·         Suicide

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent schizophrenia.

Symptoms can be prevented by taking medication. You should take your medication exactly as your doctor told you to. Symptoms will return if you stop taking your medication.

Always talk to your doctor if you are thinking about changing or stopping your medications. See your doctor or therapist regularly.