The fentanyl crisis in America continues to escalate, with a significant rise in deaths attributed to this highly potent synthetic opioid. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, have witnessed an alarming surge, resulting in a nearly 7.5-fold1 increase in drug overdose deaths from 2015 to 2021. The data unequivocally indicates that drug-related overdose deaths have substantially increased...
The Pros and Cons of Drinking After Alcohol Treatment Alcoholism is a chronic brain disease. This means that, in one way or another, it exerts its effects for a lifetime. But what does this mean for the everyday actions of people affected by alcoholism? Can an alcoholic ever drink again? And if so, in what...
Obstacles to Getting Help for Drug and Alcohol Problems Well over half of all American preteens, teens and adults drink or use illicit drugs. Most of these people do not have a diagnosable substance problem. However, tens of millions of them do. If you have problems with drugs or alcohol, you need treatment to maximize...
There are many stories of famous alcoholics and historical figures who drank to excess. It certainly appears the ‘average Joe’ (like you and me) can become obsessed with the stories of famous alcoholics. But what makes a celebrity drinker so interesting? Whether it is relating to stories of celebrity recovery or being surprised that someone...
Codependency is quite common in relationships where substance abuse is occurring. Typically, the addict is cared for by their partner. This leads to enabling and codependency. The partner then takes on the role of a caretaker. Such a situation is common for people who have been raised with an addicted parent, which brings in the...
In the United States, whippits are the most misused inhalant drugs. But what is a whippit? What is it used for? And what are the risks associated? Demystifying Whippits Whippits are small containers or chargers filled with nitrous oxide (N₂O) gas, also known as “whippets”. They can be used (or, more commonly, misused) for recreational...
NBOMe is a family of synthetic or designer hallucinogens that is considered a New Psychoactive Substance (NPS). It was synthesized in the early 2000s and became available in 2010. NBOMe was designed to mimic the effects of LSD, methamphetamine, and mescaline which is a drug made from the cactus plant. Slang terms for NBOMes include:...
What is Flexeril? Flexeril, the brand name for cyclobenzaprine, is a common prescription muscle relaxer. It acts on the central nervous system and prevents pain signals and sensations from traveling between the brain and damaged muscles. One of the biggest problems with prescription medications like this one is that many people falsely believe that they...
An Overview of Stimulants Stimulant drugs increase the activity of our central nervous system by speeding up the messages that travel between our brains and bodies. This change creates a boost in our dopamine and norepinephrine levels. The desired effect is that we feel more alert, awake, or focused. There are both prescription and illicit...
Methamphetamine is a problem in many neighborhoods and cities in the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse mentions that as much as 0.6% of the population reported using meth in 2017. The chances are good that this number has gone up significantly since then, as meth is such an easy drug to score....
