Many substance abusers often feel the urge to take higher doses to achieve the desired effects. After taking a given drug for an extended period, the body develops tolerance, which increases the craving for higher doses, leading to an overdose. Tens of thousands of Americans lose their lives to drug overdose-related deaths every year. As…
Following concerns about the highly addictive nature of opioids, many people in the US ask, what is fentanyl? It is a synthetic opioid that is increasingly causing overdose-related deaths. According to experts, synthetic opioid-related deaths have been on the rise since 2018, and tens of thousands of people in the US lose their lives yearly…
Opioids are a category of drugs that act on the body’s opioid receptors to cause a euphoric effect. Doctors prescribe these drugs for pain relief, which is effective when used according to the prescription. However, these drugs lead to addiction when people misuse them. The number of people becoming addicted to these drugs has led…
People who abuse substances tend to use two drugs simultaneously for higher stimulation. One of the most common drug combinations is benzos and alcohol. People who abuse these drugs often think it is safer to take liquor with benzos compared to other illicit drugs. However, this combination is dangerous as it may lead to adverse…
Substance users may take several drugs at the same time to reduce the negative effect of the drugs used. For example, people with cocaine addiction may use benzodiazepines to avoid paranoia and anxiety. Combining several drugs can also increase the effects of substances, making one feel more stimulated. However, the results derived and the dangers…
A majority of drug users have don’t understand what polysubstance abuse is and the impacts. Polysubstance abuse refers to the use of more than one drug at a time. The damage can involve a combination of illicit drugs and prescription medication. A person may also take multiple prescriptions without knowing that they should not use…
What are co-occurring disorders? A person who is struggling with substance abuse and a mental disorder has a co-occurring disorder. According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, nearly 6 million people in the U.S. have some form of co-occurring disorders. To provide proper treatment, many addiction treatment centers in California offer a…
Anytime you’re trying to break free of drugs, the topic of detox and withdrawal will come up. This topic is one of the biggest concerns about entering rehab. Giving up alcohol or drugs after a period of heave abuse can result in uncomfortable symptoms. However, medical detox can help you overcome those symptoms. You may…
In August, the renowned New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote an opinion piece about the pioneering step Seattle has taken regarding drug users: anyone caught with a small amount of drugs—even heroin—isn’t prosecuted. Instead, that person is steered toward social services to get help. Kristof characterizes it as “a partial retreat in the war…
If you’re at all knowledgeable about addiction (such as if you know it’s officially called substance use disorder), you likely know about sober family members being called codependent, and the need to set boundaries with a person drinking to excess or taking drugs. Otherwise, you’re “enabling,” not helping, which is not healthy for you, either.…
