Medications like painkillers, depressants, and stimulants can be essential when used as prescribed. However, abuse of prescription drugs can often lead to severe physical, psychological, and social consequences. What may have started as a prescription for genuine medical needs could spiral into dependency or addiction, with users seeking a high or relief from withdrawal symptoms….
When most people hear the word “amphetamine,” they usually think of crystal meth or other commonly abused drugs. At least I used to. Now, I associate it with a legal stimulant I used to take called Adderall. You may have heard of it. It is common among students looking to amp up their academic performance….
When it comes to Hydrocodone, Oxy, and Fentanyl. After all, there’s an epidemic sweeping the country. These drugs were responsible for more than 30,000 overdose deaths in 2016 alone. It’s no wonder they make headlines. We also hear horror stories about Xanax and Valium. However, there is another highly addictive script we should all be wary…
The DEA found that nearly 25 million prescriptions were given out for cyclobenzaprine, the active ingredient in Flexeril. As a muscle relaxant, it is often used for back pain. Flexeril is believed to be much less addictive than other pain killers. The technical name of the active compound in Flexeril is cyclobenzaprine which can be…
In the fight to save people from addiction, we try to prevent drug abuse among adolescents, build rehab centers to bring people back to life, and do our best to get illegal, harmful and deadly substances off the market. Taking these illegal substances off the market can become an international whack-a-mole game. Why? Because new…
The whole world watched many serious events during the 2020 pandemic. The news covered little else. But one event that didn’t make the headlines was the rise of an already serious epidemic – opioid addiction. As Covid-19 spread in the US in 2020, opioid addiction also spread and even found its way into areas that…
The United States is in an addiction epidemic. There are several contributing factors, but one reason is the increase in the prescription of pain relievers by doctors in the early 2000s. Although some of these prescribing trends have declined in the 2010s, recent information shows that some practitioners are still prescribing opioids when not needed….
Photo from gevende / iStockPhoto.com There’s a new drug on the scene that, despite efforts by the DEA and other law enforcement agencies to prevent people from using it, continues to appear in reports of opioid overdoses. Xylazine overdose deaths are reported across the United States, particularly Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Xylazine is…
There is a false narrative about kratom suggesting that it is a legitimate alternative to opioid pain relievers which are addictive. In practice, however, most people who consume kratom use it with other opioid medications. Kratom is addicting, although it’s still perfectly legal at the federal level and in most states. Kratom defines “Kratom” refers…
Fentanyl, the highly potent and addictive synthetic opioid pain reliever, has been making headlines and American heads for several years. The drug is said to be 10 times stronger than heroin and 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. With as much fentanyl as can fit on a thumbtack, a user could overdose and cause…
Every month new data seems to be surfacing on the harmful effects of the American opioid addiction epidemic. This crisis, aptly referred to as a national public health emergency, continues to grow in harm and danger, not only for addicts, but also for the family members, loved ones, friends, neighbors, and co-workers of addicts. A…
When you think of a drug deal, you usually think of night street corners dimly lit by street lamps in a bad part of town. They think of shady alleys and secret back and forth between people who keep their voices quiet and hide their faces. When people think of a drug deal, they usually…
Each fall, more than three million students begin their studies in colleges ranging from community colleges to Ivy League universities. They join an additional 20 million students already pursuing a degree or postgraduate degree. However, in most states, residents make up only 20% of the student body. That means 80% of students in these states…
