OxyContin (also known simply as Oxy) is a branded form of oxycodone, an opioid prescription medication with a strong chemical resemblance to codeine. Unlike most other forms of oxycodone, it contains an extended-release formula that remains active in the body for as long as 12 hours. When OxyContin first entered the US market in the […]
OxyContin and Shifting Trends in Opioid Abuse Read More »
Called K2, Spice, Incense, or Mr. Smiley among many others, synthetic cannabis is actually a collection of dry herbs and plant pieces sprayed with a chemical that is up to 100 times stronger than natural marijuana. It sounds so innocuous, yet on the back of the colorful packaging is printed a warning – “Not for
Synthetic Marijuana: Danger in a Pretty Package Read More »
Alcoholism and addiction recognize no boundaries. These equal opportunity killers of mind, body, and spirit certainly do not discriminate based on age or gender, and alcoholism in particular cuts a deep, broad swath across the entire demographic landscape.
Alcoholism in Older Women: A Brief Look at a Hidden Epidemic Read More »
Depression is a serious psychiatric disorder that affects millions of people at some point in their lives. It can be a brief episode in response to an obvious stressor or a recurring, chronic and even lifelong battle. The impact of depression is not to be underestimated, as it is ranked by the World Health Organization
Depression Is Not a Sign of Weakness Read More »
Successful treatment of bipolar disorder largely depends upon finding the right combination of medication and therapy and adhering to it. Bipolar disorder is comorbid with drug abuse, meaning that people with a history of active bipolar disorder are at higher risk than the general population. This is partly a function of the disorder’s manic phases,
Drug Interactions and Bipolar Disorder: Why Drug Use is Dangerous Under Treatment Read More »
Much of the focus on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption has been concentrated on the campaign to reduce drunk driving; and rightly so, as more than 10,000 Americans lose their lives each year in automobile accidents involving intoxicated drivers. But there is another hazard associated with drinking to excess that has gotten short shrift,
The Facts about Alcohol Poisoning Read More »
Pregorexia is a modern term used to describe the presence of anorexia-like symptoms in pregnant women. Women with the disorder have an excessive fear of pregnancy-related weight gain and use various methods, including extreme exercise routines and calorie restriction, to avoid the weight increases that mark the course of a normal, healthy pregnancy. Potential consequences
What is Pregorexia? Read More »
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, resulting in roughly 35,000 fatalities every year. In addition, nearly 11,000,000 American adults attempt suicide without success at some point in their lives. Altogether, people who abuse alcohol and/or drugs attempt to kill themselves nearly six times as frequently as people who
Substance Abuse and Suicide Read More »
There are two stages of withdrawal that every addict in recovery will have to go through before they can truly move beyond their dependency on drugs or alcohol. First comes the acute stage, which will begin as soon as an addict stops using and will continue for several weeks after that. During this period of
A Primer on Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome Read More »
On Feb. 28, 2013, Promises Behavioral Health will host a professional workshop featuring international sex addiction expert Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S.