Inhalants are a broad range of common, commercially available chemicals that get grouped together because they can function as makeshift drugs when inhaled through the nose or mouth. Use of these chemicals can trigger a number of serious or potentially fatal short- and long-term health problems. In a study published in 2013 in the journal…
Manufacturers of the illegal street drug cocaine commonly cheapen or adulterate their products with other substances in order to save money and make their drug supplies go farther. Since roughly 2003, one of the substances most frequently added to cocaine has been levamisole, a medication banned from human use in the United States. Cocaine users…
Active drug addicts are compelled to continue to use drugs no matter what. That means they will sacrifice many things to their addiction, including hopes, dreams, career goals and loved ones. In most cases, anything that gets in the way of their next high has to go, and very often that includes being good parents…
Cholesterol and triglycerides are two forms of blood-borne fat that appear in the human circulatory system. People with too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol or triglycerides in their bloodstreams can develop substantially increased risks for serious forms of heart disease. In a study published in December 2013 in the journal Alcohol, a team of Japanese researchers…
Aerobic exercise may provide more than just physical benefit to drinkers. A recent study, published in September, shows that exercise may also help mitigate the damaging effects of alcohol on a drinker’s brain. Scientists have known for years that alcohol causes vital tissues in the brain to deteriorate, leading to a host of cognitive issues.…
Growing up in a family affected by alcoholism or addiction—or any other situation that prevents adults from being able to parent effectively—leaves a legacy borne by the next generation. Kids grow up bringing their hurts, fears and addiction-infused ideas about the world, relationships and emotions into adulthood with them. There are many excellent resources for…
Social anxiety disorder is a form of medically serious anxiety that triggers a number of disruptive or dysfunctional symptoms in social situations that most people find manageable, harmless, or even pleasurable. Mental health experts also sometimes refer to the condition by the alternate name social phobia. Numerous sources indicate that people who experience bullying during…
