Prescription drug abuse isn’t always easy to spot. When someone has a legitimate prescription, it can be hard to tell the difference between proper use and misuse. But over time, patterns emerge—changes in behavior, physical health, and emotional stability that point to something deeper than just taking medication. For friends, family, and caregivers, knowing what…
Most people assume that prescription medications are safe as long as they come from a doctor’s office. While these drugs are designed to help, they don’t come without risks. Some prescriptions—especially opioids, stimulants, and sedatives—affect the brain in ways that can make stopping difficult, even for those who never intended to misuse them. For families…
Prescription drugs can seem harmless—after all, they come from a doctor, not a street dealer. But when misused, these medications can alter the brain in ways that make it harder to function, feel joy, or even make basic decisions. Opioids, stimulants, and sedatives all affect brain chemistry differently, but they share a common risk: the…
Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous opioids on the street today—fast-acting, highly addictive, and incredibly potent. According to the Rutgers School of Public Health, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine, making even small amounts potentially lethal. Maybe someone seems unusually drowsy, avoids loved ones, or struggles with sudden mood swings. Changes…
According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 100,306 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12 months ending April 2021, representing a 28.5% increase from the same period in the prior year. Provisional data indicate 75,673 overdose deaths were from opioids, up from 56,064. These numbers glaringly show that, despite national efforts…
Xanax is one of the most popular and widely prescribed anti-anxiety drugs in the United States. It is also one of the most commonly abused, as it is fast-acting, and tolerance typically builds quickly. For those individuals not taking Xanax as prescribed, signs of addiction can begin in a matter of weeks. Due to Xanax…
Opioid addiction affects millions of Americans each year, a number that has skyrocketed over the past several years as a result of the opioid crisis. Opioids are a class of drugs that include opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin, along with prescription painkillers like Oxycodone. Prescription opioids, if misused, are highly addictive, potentially deadly, and can…
Although prescription painkillers can provide relief from the severe pain that accompanies medical procedures and chronic conditions, painkiller addictions is one of the fastest-growing and most deadly in California. Millions of people suffer from painkiller addiction, and many who become dependent transition to other illicit drugs. Painkiller addictions can also prove extremely difficult to recover…
On April 19, 2018 it was announced by Carver County attorney Mark Metz, that no criminal charges will be filed in Prince’s death. Prince died on April 21,2016, from an accidental fentanyl overdose after taking counterfeit Vicodin pills that were laced with fentanyl. During a press conference it was reported that there was no evidence…
For the first time in 50 years, the life expectancy in the United States has declined two years in a row. The culprit is the increase of drug overdoses due to the opioid crisis which is plaguing the U S. Drug overdoses killed 63,600 Americans in 2016, an increase of 21% over the previous year.…