The Reality of Codeine Addiction
After Australian rapper 360 admitted to a codeine addiction through a song in which he apologized to fans for canceling 13 dates on a tour, a number of organizations in that country called for pulling codeine products from drugstore shelves and making them available by prescription only. Codeine is an opiate pain reliever that’s prescribed […]
Relapse Prevention: Trigger Awareness is Half the Battle
Completing a rehab program is a huge accomplishment, but it’s just the beginning of your recovery journey. Recovery comes with many challenges, and dealing with triggers may be one of the most difficult aspects of staying sober. When you’re aware of the triggers that could tempt you to use again, you can be vigilant about […]
Meldonium Doping: Is It Really Harmful?
Recent news reports involving meldonium use have reignited the discussion about doping among professional athletes. Athletic competitors who are caught using prohibited performance-enhancing drugs face fines, suspension from competition and possible permanent banning from their chosen sports. The vast majority of sports organizations consider such drug use unethical and contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship. […]
Does Smoking Cause Depression?
New information released by the Centers for Disease Control indicates that cigarette smoking among U.S. adults—those 18 years and older—has dropped to approximately 14.9 percent. Even with this encouraging trend in the decline of smoking among adults, it is sobering to consider that these statistics still mean there are over forty million adult smokers in […]
How to Get Your New Year’s Resolutions Back on Track
New Year’s resolutions are easy to make. Sticking to them, however, is another story. Even though you know that these goals can help you improve your life, it can be hard to turn lifestyle changes into habits. If you’re one of the nearly 56 percent of Americans who make a yearly resolution, a few strategies […]
U-47700 Drug Abuse Elicits Warnings about Fatal Effects
Recent news stories have brought to light a dangerous opioid pain medication, known as U-47700, that is being “recycled” and used as a party drug. Numerous reports indicate serious harmful side effects, resulting in respiratory depression and hospitalization in the intensive care unit. Like many other opioids, U-47700 is being used on the street for […]
Addiction and Sleep Deprivation: A Vicious Cycle
Insomnia and other sleep problems can be difficult for anyone to handle. When drug or alcohol abuse is added to the mix, the combination of conditions can create a vicious cycle that is hard to break on your own. Substance abuse and sleep deprivation make each other worse when they occur at the same time, […]
Gun Control and Mental Health: Taking Aim at More Important Issues
Gun legislation is an active topic in nearly every state in America. Existing laws are being challenged or expanded, and new laws are being proposed that would either restrict or increase the rights of gun owners. Both anti-gun and pro-gun activists are feverishly presenting their arguments, while the various lobbyists plead their cases in the […]
Obama’s Plan for Opioid Abuse
The Obama administration has made some aggressive moves in the war on opioid abuse, with a series of steps that will increase people’s access to drug addiction treatment and improve the training of physicians who prescribe opioid painkillers. Will these actions benefit people suffering from addiction and help the United States win the war on […]
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a plant in the coffee family that’s native to Southeast Asia, and it acts as a stimulant in low doses and as a euphoric sedative in higher doses. The dried leaves can be smoked, used to make a tea or powdered and made into capsules. Kratom is also known as ketum, kakuam and […]