In some cases you have no way of knowing if medications you are buying online are actually coming from foreign countries. It is actually illegal to import medications into US from foreign countries. One of reasons this is illegal is because medications that have been produced outside United States have been manufactured without quality assurance guidelines. This means they may be unsafe and dangerous. By purchasing medications online from a foreign country you may be putting yourself at risk for health issues as wealth as legal problems.

These warnings are not to say that you should never purchase medicines online. There are some companies which are perfectly legitimate and provide safe products at a reasonable price. In order to make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate company and not a company that is merely trying to run a scam by offering unsafe products, there are a few things you can do.

First, make sure that company you are dealing with online is a licensed pharmacy. Don’t just take their word for it. Check with National Association of Boards of Pharmacy at their website to find out if company you are interested in is a member. Avoid dealing with companies that do not appear to be based in US, offer to sell you medications without a prescription or to write you a ‘prescription.’ This is a recipe for disaster.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

* Unable to meet responsibilities at home, school or office.

* Continues to use substance or engage in behavior even when it is dangerous.

* The need increases to engage in behavior or use more of substance to achieve same effect or feeling.

* Has tried but failed to stop using substance or end behavior.

* Continues to engage in behavior or use substance even when they know dangers.

Answering yes to three or more of above symptoms during a twelve month period may indicate that you or a loved one has an addiction. The first step to treating an addiction is recognizing that it exists.

There is no cure for addiction. Treatment and counseling can help an addict learn to control their behavior, withstand impulses and recognize presence of a problem, but an addict is never cured. Treating an addiction can take years and requires ongoing support from friends, families and =resource/support groups.

A 12 step program can be particularly beneficial in treating an addiction. One of most well known 12 step programs is AA, also known as Alcoholics Anonymous; however there are similar programs for all kinds of addictions.

Living with an addiction requires a daily commitment and there is always possibility of relapsing. An addict who has been ‘sober’ for even twenty years, can succumb to temptation just as easily as they did decades before.

There are a number of treatment programs and centers that can help with numerous types of addictions that are prevalent today. Many of them are anonymous. Support groups are also available to assist family and friends who are dealing with effects of an addiction in a loved one.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.