Learn About Mouth Ulcers and How to Treat Them


Mouth ulcers are open sores that develop inside the mouth; these are often painful. The most common source of mouth ulcers are mouth injuries that may include biting on the lips accidentally by eating, stress, vitamin deficiencies, smoking and sometimes a common cold may be the cause of mouth sores.

If you have Crohn’s or Celiac disease you may develop mouth ulcers at times throughout your life.  Mouth ulcers generally last a few weeks or days depending on the individual, and some mouth ulcers could be cancerous if they do not go away after a certain period. If you have mouth ulcers, it is not a good idea to eat spicy foods, as doing that will irritate the ulcers further.

Ways to Treat Mouth Ulcers

For the most part, you do not have to visit a doctor to treat mouth ulcers unless these ulcers are a symptom of something more serious such as oral cancer. One method is to rinse your mouth with salt or baking soda and water with a little mint extract. You can also combine water and hydrogen peroxide to create a healing rinse for the ulcers. Milk of magnesia liquid is a good solution because it reduces the acidity in your mouth that irritates the ulcers.

Mouth Ulcers

Some of the Main Causes of Mouth Ulcers

Aside from the above mentioned reasons people get mouth ulcers, there are additional reasons. If you are a women who still gets your menstrual cycle, one reason why you get mouth ulcers is because of a hormonal imbalance, which can be relieved with prescriptions or home remedies. Family history is another factor in getting mouth ulcers. There are certain foods which lead to the development of mouth ulcers and these include chocolate, tomatoes, wheat flour, peanuts, cheese and almonds. If you smoke regularly you are at a high risk of getting mouth ulcers.

How to Research Remedies for Mouth Ulcers

One of the different ways of researching mouth ulcers is to read a few health magazine articles or academic health journal articles to learn about possible treatments. If you have friends who experienced mouth ulcers in the past, talk with them and get recommendations about how you can treat these ulcers on your own. Watch online videos about mouth ulcers to get ideas.

Conclusion

Mouth ulcers are painful but they can be treated with the above mentioned treatments. You can also talk with your doctor about ways you can prevent mouth ulcers in the future. Mouth ulcers are not contagious unless the mouth ulcer is due to a viral infection; the reason is that viral infections can be passed to others. There are ointments you can buy at some drugstores that reduce the pain and size of mouth ulcers and if you want to prevent mouth ulcers, you can also use herbal creams or supplements. Finally, you want to avoid questionable and unknown treatments for the ulcers until you research them.

This was a guest post by Ron who’s an expert Hawkesbury dentist.

The Importance of Mouthwash

Many people are not aware of the importance of mouthwash when it comes to dental hygiene. A lot think that mouthwash is just an added step, or expense, that we need to do as part of vanity. When it comes to oral care, mouthwash is as important as brushing your teeth, toothpaste and flossing. It should be part of your daily routine when it comes to oral hygiene and care.

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Why is it Important

It fights off bacteria – with the over 600 types of bacteria lurking in the mouth, your toothpaste needs all the help that it can get. There are areas in the mouth that are hard to reach for your toothbrush and this is where mouthwash comes in to the picture. It acts like the back up since it takes care of what is left of the bacteria that is leftover from brushing.

It helps the gums – Mouthwash helps in the prevention and treatment of mouth ulcers, gum diseases and infection. The use of mouthwash helps in the prevention and growth of bacteria in the mouth, which is why there are a lot of medicated mouthwashes that are in the market today.

It keeps your breath fresh – this is really the primary role of mouthwash, which is to keep your breath fresh and to give you the confidence that you need. That is why there are lots of mouthwashes that are in peppermint or spearmint flavor since their goal is to ward of bad breath or halitosis.

A word of caution:

Do not overuse mouthwash since there are some which contain a small amount of alcohol which can harm you. Overuse can dry out your mouth since it strips of the mouth of the good bacteria that are needed due to the alcohol content.

Points to Remember

Mouthwash is not an alternative to brushing, flossing or dental lab services. It is still important that you brush your teeth regularly and you floss at least once a day. The use of mouthwash is an addition to the oral hygiene routine.

For many people, they think that skipping on brushing and flossing will be okay and will opt to use mouthwash instead. Remember that you need to brush your teeth to scrape off the bacteria and food particles that are on the teeth, then you need to floss to get into the in-between’s of your teeth. Then comes in the mouthwash, since there are areas that will be missed and you need to take care of the leftover, take note: stubborn – bacteria that are still hanging around your mouth.

It’s part of the process:

Proper oral hygiene is really a process that you need to follow in ensuring that you have strong and healthy teeth and gums. It does not just stop with brushing and flossing. You need to use mouthwash for that added defense and care that brushing and flossing alone cannot do. Using mouthwash is an important part of oral hygiene and you need to observe the constant and proper use to ensure that you have a healthy mouth, teeth and gums and you have that killer fresh breath all day long. 

How Smoking Causes Lung Cancer

 Lung cancer is the primary disease caused by smoking but you can reduce your chances of developing it by quitting tobacco cigarettes and instead using electronic cigarettes. Since electronic cigarettes do not have tobacco smoke coming out of them, it is safer to smoke. Instead electronic cigarettes contain liquid nicotine that comes out of a cartridge as a water vapor. When you smoke electronic cigarettes you also reduce passing on secondhand smoke to others. The National Cancer Institute says that each year smoking is the main cause of 30% of cancer-related deaths. If you are exposed to secondhand smoke you are at risk of getting cancer. The tobacco inside of traditional cigarettes have between 3000 and 4000 toxins in them that damage the lungs over a period of years and as this gets to the lungs, cancer chances increase. Unlike tobacco cigarettes, electronic cigarettes do not have these toxins.

Ways in Which Smoking Leads To Lung Cancer and Other Lung Problems

When you smoke for a long period of time, your lung’s elastic tissues are ruined because of the tar buildup from the cigarettes and as a result your lung expands so much to the point that it is hard to breathe. Smoking also causes the tar to latch on to your nasal and throat passageway and it is for this reason that mucus is clogged in your respiratory system. And as stated above, carcicogenic chemicals from the cigarettes get in your system and tumors can form on the lungs. These are more reasons why you should switch to electronic cigarettes because they do not harm your lungs in the same way.

Lung Cancer and Smoking

Other Kinds of Smoking Related Cancers

Aside from lung cancer, smoking tobacco cigarettes also causes larynx cancer, cervix cancer, pancreatic cancer, and at times colon cancer. Each type of cancer has its’ own symptoms and if you feel you may one of these cancers, research the main symptoms of them then meet with the doctor to determine if this is the case.

Additional Benefits of Using Electronic Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes do not have a lot of nicotine in them and this means that they are less addictive than tobacco cigarettes. In addition, electronic cigarettes do not have tar, acetone or arsenic in them and this reduces your lung cancer chances. If you smoke around others with electronic cigarettes, they will not be harmed because you are giving off liquid nicotine. Electronic cigarettes are also cheaper than cigarettes.

Conclusion

Lung cancer interferes with your daily activities and you shorten your lifespan. But there is good news because if you quit the tobacco cigarettes and switch to electronic cigarettes, you lower the cancer chances. You can buy electronic cigarettes at the convenience store, online retailers, at trade shows and from mail order catalogs. Electronic cigarettes also come in delicious flavors such as cinnamon, lemon, vanilla and almond. Finally, these are easy to assemble and smoke, and they last longer if you buy in bulk.

What is The Life of a Medical Technologist Like?

Medical technologists experience the best of both worlds throughout their career due to the fact that they can work with both medicine and with science. The technologist will perform various lab tests from simple ones to extremely complex tests to uncover issues, diseases and cancer. They are the ones who are responsible for confirming that the test results are accurate; they must work quickly and efficiently due to the fact that they do have such a huge responsibility.

They hold death and life results in the palm of their hands, and the information that they provide the doctor with is vital in what type of treatment the doctor is going to provide to the doctor. Throughout this search and analysis, the technologists do a lot more than simply examine specimens; they will operate difficult equipment, computers and instruments.  This is a precise job that has to report extremely accurate results and if the results are incorrect then the process needs to be repeated.

Where do Medical Technologists Work?

Medical technologists can work in five different areas, and those are Microbiology, immunology, chemistry, blood banking and hematology. They aren’t limited on the amount of choices that they have in their practice environments. They have the option of working in hospitals, public facilities and independent laboratories. They all have positions opened for these specialists and there are also jobs available in molecular diagnostics, research labs and biotech companies. The salary is very sufficient throughout this career due to its importance and how trained the individual must be in performing the job.

All individuals who choose to work as a medical technologist need to be problem solvers due to the challenge in analyzing some of their data. They need to be very accurate, precise and work well having a time deadline; therefore, being under pressure. They will communicate well and be very committed to their profession due to the liability that they are holding – they are ultimately determining the results of someone else’s health.

Medical Technician

In order to prepare for this career the applicant must prepare for a career in medical technology through proper medical technician training, and they need to have a sturdy foundation in their sciences. They will need a formal education and clinical education in medical technology that is accredited by NAACLS. There are many different programs to choose from depending on your location and there are many colleges that will offer a multitude of degrees in medical technologies. The education is essential due to the applicant having the ability to be prepared for the job directly in various settings. They will then have many options depending on where they want to work and earn their money.

Conclusion

A trained medical technologist is going to gain experience in the lab that they choose to work in. In current laboratories, the areas of work pertain to the immune system,   cell markers, and bioengineering and cancer studies, drug testing, therapeutic medical monitoring and biogenetics. These specialists are needed for various positions in the development of products, environmental purposes, medical assurance and marketing sales.

Drinking and Hangovers

If no one would get a hangover or get sick, more people who drink more freely. Unfortunately, the fact that hangovers are for real and they can be a real pain the next day keeps many people from drinking and letting loose. While there is not a sure-fire, 100 percent perfect way to avoid getting a hangover, there are ways to reduce the chance that your hangover will be the worst one you have ever experienced.

Drink Water

One of the best ways to reduce a hangover is to drink plenty of water before you end your evening. Many people suffer from hangovers because they are dehydrated and they might have a headache from the problems related to drinking. So, drinking water will help prevent the dehydration.

Before you go to the bar or party to enjoy a few drinks, there are a few things that you should do. The first is to make sure that you are well-hydrated before you take your first drink of an alcoholic beverage. The second is that you should be sure to eat before you go out on the town since many people who get sick from hangovers drink on an empty stomach. Interestingly, another activity that will increase the chances of getting a hangover is being especially active (like dancing) during your drinking expedition.

Flush Face Formula

If you are someone who not only gets a hangover, but also gets a flushed face, there are remedies for the flushed face. Since many people, especially Asians, get a flushed red face when drinking, AF Formula was created. By taking two capsules per day, you will fight the effect of getting a red or swollen face when you drink. It is important to take the capsules for at least 30 days to see them really work effectively.

Fermentation and Congeners

Many of the worst hangovers come from drinks that are made through fermentation and those that have the most congeners tend to create the worst hangovers. Beverages like red wine, brandy, and dark tequila will leave drinkers with some of the worst hangovers. The old adage of “beer before liquor, never sicker” actually has some scientific fact behind it. Because beer is carbonated alcohol is absorbed faster in the body, so when you drink beer, then liquor, the body will not have enough time to digest and process the alcohol in the liquor.

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Fight the Hangover

Most people who have a hangover have their own ways to treat the problem. There are old wives tales about drinking more alcoholic beverages, like Bloody Marys, after a rough night out will cure a hangover. There are others who love to eat heavily breaded and fried food. Others drink several glasses of water. The best medicine for a hangover usually includes drinking water, eating carbohydrates to boost the blood sugar level, and getting a good night (or day) into sleep. One food that scientists are researching as a hangover cure is asparagus.

The best way to avoid a hangover is to not drink at all; however, many people do not make that choice and they have suffer through the problem. There are many very popular site for Asian people to check out to fight these hangovers. 

Local Health Services for The Elderly

Preventative Care for The Elderly

Preventative care is essential to the health of local senior citizens and local health services exist to provide this kind of care so that the elderly can detect possible signs of more serious illnesses and so they can prevent these illnesses early on. Some cities have nonprofit health organizations that have their own free clinics for low-income seniors who want to receive preventative care and they can get physical checkups, dental and eye exams and tests for possible hearing loss.

Need for Locally-Owned Healthcare That Targets Seniors

A majority of healthcare companies are corporately-operated and at times bureaucratic as to how it treats patients at times. This is not good for seniors at the local level and there is a strong need for locally-operated health insurance providers that are specifically for local senior citizens and that are affordable. A common complaint about corporate healthcare providers is that they tend not to cover pre-existing conditions and these providers often do not cover enough procedures and prescriptions. This kind of local health services can also offer coverage of home health care and stays in nursing homes.

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Local Dental Schools’ Role in Health Care for Seniors

Local dental schools can help seniors access quality dental care by accepting more Medicare patients since a majority of seniors have this kind of health insurance. Local dental schools can also partner with health insurance providers to increase the number of elderly patients they receive, particularly those in low-income neighborhoods.

Mobile Healthcare Services for Elderly

If you are the director of a local nonprofit organization, you can provide local health services for the elderly by starting a mobile health clinic in the community where nurses, dentists, eye doctors and other types of doctors visit the homes of the elderly to perform checkups. This is a good idea for those who are no longer able to make frequent doctors’ visits.

Local Health Services Are Beneficial for Elderly During Budget Cuts

When local health services offer assistance to the elderly in their communities, the senior citizens will receive the help they need during times when the government cannot provide certain health benefits. For example, if the government decides to drastically cut Social Security benefits and Medicare benefits, local healthcare providers will step in and fill this need.

Ways Seniors Can Research Local Health Services

You can find out which local health services are available in your community by visiting your city’s government website to locate the different free clinics and traditional clinics that accept Medicare and different health insurance providers. Another idea is to have your adult child or grandchild bring you to the social services department and inquire about how you can access affordable healthcare as a senior citizen. Finally, you can contact local medical schools and ask if they offer senior discounts and if so, which procedures qualify for the discounts. With the proper research it is possible for seniors to obtain the best care for their needs.

How to Keep Your Skin Young and Tight

Mineral and Salt scrubs have been proven to help tighten the skin after ageing and or weight loss because it promotes better blood flow, which is a key ingredient to having healthy, elastic skin. Mineral and Salt scrubs are a very popular treatment at health centres, and seeing as it seems to work for so many people, it would be a great idea to start using a good scrub in the shower at least six times a week and see if it helps keep your skin tight too.

Massage Therapy is another open secret for maintaining healthy skin. A weekly dose of massage therapy has been reported to tighten one’s skin, particularly after weightless. Massage therapy is especially encouraged if one has suffered from sagging skin on their upper arms and or upper thighs. After regularly undergoing massage therapy, you too will not be able to stop yourself from showing off your newly re-firmed skin. Massage therapy combines giving you a healthy body and healthy skin with the relaxation and invigoration that is the reason why massage is so popular. Stimulate your blood cells and firm up your skin with a dose of massage regularly and soon you too will be able to notice the difference.

One of the most effective and most sexy ways to tighten your skin is weight training. Not only does “lifting” help you achieve your goal weight, but it tightens and firms your skin as you build muscle tone. If women are worried about becoming too buff or masculine, don’t be. Start out by taking some weight training classes if you feel nervous and start on the path to building a toned, lean muscled body which off course will mean tighter, younger looking skin.

Skin Care

Yoga is widely known to be a great stress reliever and flexibility builder, but it also fantastic for promoting healthy, firm, beautiful skin. Yoga firms up the body and invigorates ones overall wellbeing, creating a tighter, younger looking, sexier you in only a few weeks. Sign up for a class today.

Calisthenics is similar to Yoga in that it builds up lean muscle and tightens your skin while helping you to lose weight. Try out some Calisthenics three to four times a week. The Jumping jacks, push-ups and windmills may be tiring but they will work wonder for maintaining the health of your skin.

If you’re not keen on breaking a sweat in order to keep your skin tight, consider investing in Cleo Q Facial Toner. Cleo Q’s Facial Toning System if used regularly regulates the effect of ageing by attacking it’s symptoms on all its facets on the face, whether it be by minimizing your frown lines, getting rid of dark circles under the eyes, restoring your lips to their youthful fullness, reducing overall puffiness or tightening up the skin on your jaw line and neck. Cleo Q Facial Toning is an essential purchase for anybody who wants to maintain the health of their skin.   Club Q also provides an excellent pelvic toning system for that area of your body.

How to Heal Stomach Gout

If you’re dealing with the problematic stomach gout there are ways to heal it without having to undergo the pain and discomfort. If the pain is very severe and it continues to occur then think about what it is that is causing it. If you’re a female, could it be menstrual cramps or you starting your cycle? In those cases, a remedy such as this should go ignored due to the different between the causes.

Over-the-Counter Medications

You should first get an over the counter antacid if you suspect that the gout is related to heartburn. You can also find some medications that could help you with gas problems which at times can be the factor for stomach discomfort and abdominal pain. If the symptoms that you are having are very persistent talk to a doctor before you take the matters into your own hands. The easiest way in knowing how to heal stomach gout is by taking a warm bath or putting heat over the area. There are a lot of people who find that the warmth helps them to reduce the pain and ease problems that are minor.

You can try to take an over the counter pain medication but you will want to stay away from ibuprofen since it can irritate the stomach, and aspirin can as well. This can lead to more stomach pains at times. The best way in knowing how to heal stomach gout is by resting, drinking plenty of liquids and eating small meals. In the majority of cases this will pass after a short period of time if you take it easy. Eat mild foods and stay away from anything spicy, caffeine, fatty and especially away from alcohol. You’re much better off drinking a non carbonated drink or a juice.

Ginger

Ginger

In addition to this, try using ginger to help you ease the pain. This is an ingredient that has anti inflammatory properties and various other health benefits. This will aid you in digestion and it can ease many stomach pains. The fresh ginger is best when it’s first purchased and in its most potent form.  It’s recommended that you make a simple tea with it, such as a fresh ginger tea. You can also peel the ginger for better results. If you don’t like the taste of ginger you can always buy the supplements which are found in the form of a pill. Ginger soda may feel really good on your stomach, such as Reed’s ginger brew, because it is one of the more natural soda sweetened with pure fruit juice. There are also some ginger candies but those often contain just the conventional sugar.

Conclusion

You can also squeeze half of a lemon into warm water and this should help your stomach by calming it down. Although most people use warm saltwater to help with throat problems, it’s also very effective in helping with stomach gout. Add a teaspoon into one cup of warm water for the best results.   Source for Info used to article: http://homeremedieslog.com/health-topics/arthritis/gout/remedies-23/

Is Under-Age Drinking a Rising Problem?

Alcohol is ubiquitous in Western culture. It is a key component of social life and is frequently promoted in the media and sport. Young people are immersed in a culture in which over 60% of adults drink alcohol in any given week and where one in six get drunk. Within this culture is the rising problem of under-age drinking. Evident by the admittance of thousands of students into hospital every year due to alcohol abuse.

Most governments have attempted to respond to drinking culture with numerous laws that aim to tackle alcohol related crime and disorder. As well as high fines imposed for the encouragement under-age drinking. Despite all legal efforts, alcohol is still freely available at cheap prices and is easily accessible to teenagers.

The health risks of under-age drinking are of great concern. Although the exact damage to a person will be dependent on the teenagers’ size, weight, age and sex; heavy drinking from a young age can result in long-term health conditions which include cancer, coronary disorders, impotence and liver disease. Over the last decade there has been a sharp rise in deaths from liver disease among people aged 25-34, this is thought to be the result of heavy consumption of alcohol from a young age.

The damage caused by underage drinking goes beyond the individual consumer. The risks of causing harm to others through involvement in crimes which include drink driving and violent assaults are also increased. A survey by the Home Office found nearly one in five of 12-13 year olds and over a quarter of 14-15 year olds caused damage while drinking.

Equally drunkenness puts teenagers at a greater risk of sexual abuse. Young people are naturally at risk to sexual exploitation and harm for a wide variety of reasons which often relates to familial issues, however alcohol heightens the vulnerability of such people. It is often the case that the peer-pressure to drink alcohol extends to peer-pressure surrounding sex, as exemplified in a 2007 survey in which 11% of teenagers claimed to regret a sexual encounter when drunk.

Mental health and psychological stability can too be affected by under-age drinking. As already mentioned, the traumas encountered when drunk can leave a lasting impact, but heavy drinking can also create difficulties in the education of a person as learning and mental development are made more difficult. A further negative health effect is the addictive nature of alcohol. Alcohol addiction is common within society and creates future economic and social problems for those involved. Addiction is made more probable in those who have been drinking from an early age.

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From all of the above it appears under-age drinking is a rising problem. Alcohol is an easily accessed drug and, given the constant promotion by producers through the media, the appeal to young people comes as no surprise. Adolescence is a time of uncertainty, doubt and anxiety; for that to be accompanied by the availability of a legal drug which induces confidence and excitement is very dangerous, when the greater implications of the drug are not fully understood. Within the framework of a drinking culture which encourages such behavior it only follows that many teenagers cave into peer-pressure in order to feel better about their self image.

The reasons for under-age drinking are multifaceted and complex, arising from a range of social, political and economic factors. However, as a rising problem these factors need to be addressed. People can be reassured that under-age drinking is not something which must be endured alone, and that help is out there to deal with young people who suffer from dependence on alcohol.

This post was written by Stanley Martinson.  Stanley is concerned with issues of health and alcohol abuse.  If you’re interested in reading more on this pertinent subject, read here!

Should There Be Tighter Laws On Underage Drinking?

Despite numerous warnings of the negative impact on health in the long term, and well documented alcohol-related incidents often resulting in tragedy, underage drinking still remains a prominent issue in America. Binge drinking has become synonymous with social events for many individuals under the age of twenty-one, with many seeing it as a right of passage into adulthood.

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Consequences of Underage Drinking

The attraction to underage drinking is fuelled by cultural norms and social pressures, with the sensationalism of alcohol common in the media. However, it is rather concerning what many youths are willing to risk for what they deem to be no more than ‘a bit of fun’. Intoxication is held accountable for over 4,700 annual deaths amongst minors in the United States of America, with a further 189,000 underage drinkers visiting emergency rooms as a result of alcohol consumption. Injuries resulting from alcohol abuse are not the only worry; the long term effects that can result from underage drinking can be devastating. Due to the fact that adolescents’ central nervous systems are still developing, binge drinking can be held accountable for delayed auditory and verbal memory, in addition to an increased likelihood of development of alcoholism in later life.

The Law

Currently, the law across all of America states that it is illegal for any persons under twenty-one years of age to purchase alcohol. However, intricate guidelines vary between regions, with seven states and Washington D.C opting to extend the National Minimum Drinking Age Act to an outright ban, many others choosing to allow consumption in the company of consenting family members, and some others – rather worryingly – choosing not to regulate private consumption of alcoholic beverages at all.
There are numerous issues with the enforcement of laws regarding underage drinking. As the overarching law only regards the purchasing of alcohol, it is relatively easy for people to purchase the beverages on the behalf of a minor. In a recent study whereupon young females attempted to buy alcohol from a convenience store without any identification, almost 80% of all the stores sold beer to the buyers at least once in three attempts. Evidence such as this conveys the major flaws of law enforcement regarding alcohol, and suggests that a more effective policy needs to be introduced.

Solutions

Debates regarding alcohol consumption in America have circled for years, and any agreement surrounding the legalization of underage drinking will not fully eradicate the problem. Furthermore, amending the laws is not the only route to dealing with the issue; prevention programs are proven to successfully reduce the misuse of alcohol, and educating people from a young age about the negative consequences of alcohol will also impact positively on the decisions made by youths.
An alternative policy to consider would be to implement laws similar to those in place in countries such as France; which allows minors to consume alcohol complementary to a meal.  This would reduce the glamorization of alcohol, as youths would already be accustomed to drinking small amounts in a safe setting. This may then curb the urge to drink in excess in unsupervised and unsavory settings. Although this is a premise tarried with risks and could even be considered as relaxing the current laws, it has been proven that countries with similar strategies such as this have lower rates of alcohol related problems and incidents.
Whilst it is undoubtedly imperative that the intake of alcohol in minors is regulated, the reality of the situation is that a complete ban of alcohol consumption in under twenty-one’s would be likely to result in an increase in binge drinking, with people already arguing that the United States’ ‘dry’ policy inadvertently encourages this.
Therefore, it is reasonable to suggest that ‘tighter’ laws are not necessarily the answer to combating underage drinking. Rather, an increase in controlled reinforcement of the laws already established would be a far more effective solution.

This article was submitted by contributing author Stanley Martinson. Stanley is a health writer and is currently focused on issues of alcohol abuse.  For more information regarding this subject, check this out!

The Best Anti-Drug Commercials

There is much debate as to what constitutes an effective anti-drug commercial: does it need to be funny or use shock tactics? The question many anti-drug activists ask is what gets the messages across in the most effective way.

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Intentionally funny commercials are often a way to communicate the anti-drug message to a large audience of young people, especially when considering the power of viral videos. By creating a video that young people can share online, the creator of the advertisement has an audience that grows with each share, like and tweet. A particular example of this advert is a public service announcement from the Government of Ohio, showing a martial artist preparing to chop a plank of wood in half with his hand. However when he hit the plank, the end flips up and hits him in the face- the screen then displays the message ‘High for a night, slow for a month‘. The combination of slapstick humor with a relatable message at the end conveys the message to the targeted group of occasional drug-using young people. It gives humor to engage the viewer and finishes with a message that forces them to consider their actions.

However, some of the best funny commercials are unintentionally humorous. Often attempting to use shock tactics can backfire and end up creating a funny video rather than one that is supposed to scare people out of drug use. Often these adverts create exaggerated characters and consequences of drugs that are supposed to shock and to an extent, scare the viewer. However, this often is taken too far and the result is a video that looks like it is trying too hard to be shocking, whilst having the opposite effect. These videos are actually very effective at getting the message out, as they are another type of video that is likely to be shared virally. A recent British anti-drug commercial, aimed at younger teenagers that are using drugs such as cocaine, is set in a morgue with an almost ghostly man talking into the camera about his ‘new friends’. Whilst the commercial comes across as funny, the serious message is not ignored: there are still 14 and 15 year olds dead as a result of taking drugs.

Some of the best commercials rely upon shock tactics and extreme imagery to get the anti-drug message across. These commercials are aimed at getting the audience to sit up and pay attention by using disturbing visuals that often make for uncomfortable viewing. These are effective because they show the most extreme consequences of taking drugs, often showing the people taking the drugs as extreme versions of themselves. One such example of this type of commercial is a British advertisement that shows a man coughing up a rat, attempting to warn against the dangers of creating ‘home-made highs’. This advert was eventually banned, deemed too graphic for public viewing, yet it continues to get thousands of views on YouTube. The imagery in adverts such as these stick with the viewer long after they have viewed them, constantly reminding them of the message of the commercial.

Overall, the best anti-drug commercials are the ones that have a combination of memorable imagery, whether that is through the use of humor or shock tactics and lasting messages that can shock or identify with the audience. The combination of these two factors make for an effective anti-drugs message that can be converted to the best anti-drug commercials.

This post was written by Stanley Martinson.  Stanley is concerned with issues of health and drug abuse.  If you’re interested in reading more on this pertinent subject, read here!