Chances are you or someone you know has an Ambien story to tell. This popular sleep aid has become famous for the odd adverse effects it has on some people. These have involved sleep-eating, sleep-driving, memory lapses, seeing things, odd acts, and accidents. One thing you don’t hear much about is how rough it is…
Burnout In Healthcare COVID-19 Has Put a Burden on Our Healthcare Workers Who May Turn to Substances Working in the healthcare field is stressful. All levels of healthcare workers, such as doctors, nurses, and support staff, have to manage stress every day. Some areas of the healthcare field, like ER doctors and nurses, have a…
Flakka is a dangerous synthetic stimulant drug. Nicknamed the Zombie drug, flakka began to catch on some years ago in Florida. Since then the drug has found its way across the U.S. This cheap stimulant is more potent than meth or cocaine. It can cause severe physical and mental health effects. Read on to learn…
If you or a loved one has a long-term alcohol use disorder you are probably well aware of the short-term adverse affects caused by alcohol abuse. These effects cut a wide swath through a person’s life, negatively impacting physical and mental health, experiencing blackouts and horrible hangovers, excess absenteeism from work or college, reduced job…
What Does Chemically Dependent Mean? We hear plenty in the news about addiction, but what is chemical dependency? Most people are unaware of the distinction between drug and alcohol addiction and chemical dependency. In reality, it is possible to be addicted to a substance and never develop a chemical dependency. On the flipside, someone who…
Drinking Too Much Alcohol According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, about 21.5 million adult Americans battle with substance use disorder. About 80% of those who are struggling with substance abuse disorder are abusing alcohol. Most don’t even see it as a problem, as alcohol use in America has been normalized and…
Understanding High THC in Marijuana Back in the 60s smoking weed was quite popular. There was something of a cultural revolution going on. Most of the folks that smoked pot back then eventually grew out of it and went on to have families and enjoy a normal life in American society. Only about 10% of…
Removing Outside Influences in Residential Rehab Perhaps it goes without saying that a residential facility has a more positive atmosphere than a hospital or clinic. After all, the setting is more relaxed and peaceful, more open and caring. It just feels different. There is no extra added stress, as it is a new environment for…
Prescription opioid drugs, which include commonly prescribed medications such as OxyContin and Vicodin, can provide effective, safe pain relief when used as prescribed. However, the risk of prescription opioid abuse and developing a dependency is high, and the abuse of these drugs has skyrocketed in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
Methamphetamine abuse is a fast-growing drug problem in the United States. Research shows that over 13 million American adults and adolescents have experimented with methamphetamine’s, and a large number of these people have ended up addicted to the substance. Meth is a powerful and dangerous drug, but the euphoric rush it provides fuels the cycle…
While drinking alcohol is not necessarily a problem for some people, for others drinking too much can lead to a wide range of consequences. Alcohol-related problems have serious mental, physical and social effects. People who experience problems from drinking may be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). A survey by the National Institute on…
Although substance abuse and substance dependence are frequently used interchangeably, the two terms, while interrelated, are distinct. While both refer to someone’s destructive association with drugs or alcohol, one often comes before the other. Addiction specialists and mental health professionals emphasize the importance of understanding both terms in order to better understand abuse and how…
Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease that affects brain function and behavior. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, once an addiction has developed, it almost always requires professional intervention to stem the cycle of remission and relapse.1 Abuse, Addiction and Dependence Drug abuse, addiction and dependence are not the same thing. Abuse…
Addiction Risk As addiction experts will tell you, anyone can become addicted. However, some people may have a higher addiction risk and are more influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Like other illnesses such as diabetes and asthma, addiction is associated with periods of relapse and remission. There is no cure for…
How Drugs and Alcohol Affect Your Life & Relationships Addiction is an insidious illness that can eventually take control of a person’s life. Anybody who risks experimenting with drugs can become addicted.1 One of the most disturbing things about this illness is that people who have it are often in denial, refusing to accept that…
Recognizing an Addiction Problem Addiction is a type of disorder that is marked by compulsive substance abuse, even when that substance abuse creates negative consequences. This includes taking drugs—both legal and illegal—and drinking alcohol, despite negative health, financial or social consequences. It can be difficult to recognize addiction as some of the signs and symptoms…
