According to a recent study from McMasters University in Ontario, Canada, half of female methadone patients originally became addicted to prescription opiates after being prescribed pain killers for chronic pain management. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Canada consumes more opioid painkillers than any other country, with the number of prescriptions doubling in the last…
E-cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes and vaporizer cigarettes are battery-operated devices that release doses of vaporized nicotine or non-nicotine vaporized solutions. E-cigarettes were first introduced into the US market in 2007 as a device to help smokers cut back or quit smoking altogether. The use of e-cigarettes has risen dramatically in the United States…
Many people want to know the optimal amount of time to stay in drug and alcohol treatment to have the most positive effects. We posted a blog on this a couple of years ago, but the question is raised so often, that we thought we’d talk about it again. According to the National Institute on Drug…
Marijuana use among college students is at the highest rate it’s been since 1980. According to the 2014 Monitoring the Future Study, 5.9% of college students report daily or near-daily marijuana use. Basically, one in every 17 college students is smoking marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis (defined as use on 20 or more…
Now in its 26th year, National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans about the people affected by mental and/or substance use disorders and to remind them that these people can live healthy and rewarding lives when they receive appropriate care. Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in…
In a previous blog we discussed the top five health risks of alcohol which include liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, ulcers and gastrointestinal problems, and immune system issues. Today we’ll discuss items six through ten. 6. Brain damage Alcohol alters brain receptors and neurotransmitters and interferes with cognitive function, mood, emotions and reactions on multiple levels. Because…
Despite the fact that it’s legal, alcohol is one of the most lethal drugs available in the United States. It is the fourth leading cause of preventable death and, as a central nervous system depressant, you can die from alcohol withdrawal. Despite this, most people don’t die of alcoholism, and the harm caused by drinking…
In a study published earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the CDC says in last month alone, 4 million have gotten behind the wheel when they shouldn’t. In this study they found that close to 2% of adults admitted to driving while intoxicated at least once over the prior month, which translates…
This is the second installment of a two-part series on drugs to treat drug and alcohol addiction. Currently, there are three categories of drugs used to treat drug dependencies. Methadone Used for opiate withdrawal and replacement since the mid-1960s, methadone has been prescribed to thousands of opiate addicts. While methadone can be used to lessen withdrawal…
Ironically, a common request in drug and alcohol treatment centers is for drugs to treat addiction. In this two-part post, we’re going to discuss the medications approved for alcohol abuse and those approved for drug abuse. Currently, there are three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for alcohol abuse. None of these…