A first of a kind study, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) conducted in August 2015, shed insight on substance use patterns among one in five full-time college students (18-22) who were using illicit or potentially harmful substances. The study which tracks initiation of use by month shows that the initiation for…
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According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) the rate of Substance Abuse Disorder among the LGBT community isn’t well known but studies indicate that it is somewhere between 20%—30% which is significantly higher than the general population which stands at 9%. Additionally, men who have sex with men are 3.5 times…
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition in which an individual experiences immense feelings of stress and anxiety after witnessing or being engaged in a traumatic event. According to the National Center for PTSD, some people cope with their PTSD by drinking heavily or by using drugs. PTSD increases the risk that the person with the…
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Conservative estimates of the prevalence of sexual assault suggest that 25% of American women have experienced a sexual assault, including rape. Approximately half of those cases involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim, or both. It is important to note that an intoxicated individual cannot legally consent to sexual activity. Forcing sex on someone who…
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A panel of medical experts recommended in January 2016 that the Food and Drug Administration approve a new way of treating opiate addiction and on May 26, 2016, the FDA announced approval for the first buprenorphine implant for the treatment of opioid dependence. Probuphine is designed to provide a constant, low-level dose of buprenorphine for…
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On June 2, 2016 findings from Prince’s autopsy confirmed that the superstar died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid painkiller that is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. In March 2015, Federal Drug Enforcement officials issued a nationwide alert about the dangers…
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Right now, all 50 states have a minimum legal drinking age of 21. Some states, though, have also implemented expanded underage drinking laws. Those additional laws were the focus of research done by a team at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) in Calverton, Maryland, and published in the March 2016 issue of…
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There have been many studies over the years acclaiming the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, particularly when it comes to the heart and longevity. But new research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs indicates that many of these studies are flawed and that many of the purported benefits are likely overestimated. Lead researcher…
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 259 million prescriptions were written for painkillers in 2012, enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills. A national conversation has been taking place as people think about what’s good and what’s bad about this access to medications. On one side of…
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Dextromethorphan (DXM) is one of the main ingredients in many over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications. It’s legal and easily bought from pharmacies and grocery stores, so typical users are teenagers and young adults. In fact, 1 in 11 teens have admitted to getting high on cough medicine. DXM use is referred to by teens as…
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