Opiates are central nervous system depressants that slow down your breathing and heart rate, making them especially dangerous to mix with other depressants. Because the opiate overdose timeline is short, experiencing symptoms of an opiate overdose requires immediate medical intervention. The rise in opiate abuse has led to overdoses becoming the leading cause of death …
While marijuana can’t cause fatal overdoses, ingesting large amounts can cause symptoms like anxiety and psychosis. Marijuana causes relaxing and calming emotions, as well as intoxication. Intoxication can impair your judgment and coordination, as well as cause negative emotions, like paranoia. THC is responsible for many of the mood-altering effects you experience when using marijuana. …
When you get help for an alcohol abuse disorder, peer-led support groups are one way to strengthen your recovery. SMART Recovery, and other alternatives to AA, create a safe and healthy place to support your sobriety. Each year, 15 million adults in the United States struggle with an alcohol abuse disorder, with 23% of all …
The opioid epidemic of 2019 experienced also saw a significant number of overdoses. Overdose rates have increased dramatically over the past several years, with about 130 people dying each day from an opioid overdose. Since opioids can cause physical addictions, meaning that you can deal with troubling and painful withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly stop …
2.2 million Americans ages 12 and older regularly use cocaine, while another 473,000 use crack cocaine. Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant and an illicit narcotic, meaning that it has no known medical uses and is illegal to buy, sell, and produce. Cocaine is also prone to abuse and can lead to addiction. When …
Designer drugs are lab-created substances that are meant to emulate the effects of other drugs, like opiates, stimulants, and hallucinogens. Among the many dangers of designer drugs are that manufacturers create these synthetic substances in a manner that makes them legal or difficult to regulate. Substances like Spice and K2, popularly abused designer drugs, are …
The Mayo Clinic staff posted the following article on teen drug abuse: Many teens experiment with drugs, putting their health and safety at risk—but teen drug abuse isn’t inevitable. You can help prevent teen drug abuse by talking to your teen about the consequences of using drugs and the importance of making healthy choices. Know …
A new study finds that changing the words used to describe someone struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction may significantly alter the attitudes of health care professionals, even those who specialize in addiction treatment. Science Daily reports that Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have found that health professionals’ answers to survey questions about a hypothetical …
Words Used to Describe Substance-Abuse Patients Can Alter Attitudes, Create Stigma Read More »
A new study shows that it takes at least one year for brain functions to improve in methamphetamine users. It supports the idea that brain function can recover after a year of abstinence from methamphetamine. These findings should help recovering abusers and their families understand that it can take an extended period of time for …
Brain Function can Recover after a Year of Abstinence from Methamphetamine Read More »
Opiates and opioids — we’ve used and heard these terms used interchangeably, but are they the same? If not, what is the difference between opiate and opioid drugs? With all the many news reports about the opioid crisis, you may have wondered which drugs or medicines these were. It’s important to have an understanding of …
What is the Difference Between Opiate and Opioid Drugs? Read More »