Overcoming addiction is difficult. Prolonged use of an addictive substance causes brain chemistry to become irreversibly altered, resulting in occasional cravings for an individual’s drug of choice. Being a legal and accessible substance, alcohol is the second most abused substance in the world. Alcoholism is hard to recover from since the urge to drink alcohol…
“California sober” is a relatively new term that has been circulating and causing confusion among the public. But what does California sober mean? What are its implications? For those involved with addiction and recovery communities, understanding this ideology is crucial, for “California sobriety” is both dangerous and unfounded. What is “California Sober”? California sober means…
A drug is defined as any substance that can alter the way the mind or body works. Drug overdoses are in the United States have gotten completely out of hand, claiming responsibility for being the leading cause of death among Americans in recent society. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drug overdoses reached…
The opioid epidemic is defined by three distinct “waves” with the first wave occurring in the mid-1990s. Currently, the U.S. is facing the third wave, brought on by the introduction of fentanyl. Although no demographic is immune from the dangers of the ongoing epidemic, some geographical regions remain more susceptible than others. One of the…
Most addictive substances can be classified as either “uppers” or “downers.” These labels refer to the chemical and physical reactions that occur while under the influence of a specific substance. Although uppers and downers produce opposite effects, both types of substances are capable of inflicting severe damage to an individual’s health and overall well-being. Frequent cocaine…
As a prescription medication, Xanax addiction can be easily concealed, making the disease both dangerous and insidious. According to a recent study, approximately 4 percent of Americans met the criteria for a substance use disorder within the past year, with approximately 10 percent reporting a substance use disorder at some time in their lives. While…
Trying to decide whether you are struggling with alcoholism or possibly drinking just a little too much will require you to take a closer look at your drinking. Do you find yourself drinking alone? Do you crave an alcoholic beverage when you wake up? Do you lie to people about how much you have had…
If you are concerned that your OxyContin use has become problematic, an in-depth examination of your habits and priorities can help determine if you have developed an OxyContin addiction. Considered a large contributor to the ongoing opioid epidemic, OxyContin is extremely potent and highly addictive. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,…
An overdose is an event where an individual ingests a critically high amount of a physically altering substance which then causes severe side effects or possible death. Most illicit drugs carry the risk of causing an overdose when abused, although some substances have a higher likelihood of this than others. If you or someone you…
We all know about the opioid epidemic that has been going on in America for quite some time. Covid-19 being introduced has only added fuel to the fire, making it an even more challenging time for individuals across the United States. According to the CDC, there were over 81,000 drug overdose deaths in the US…