The abuse of and addiction to opioids such as heroin, morphine, and prescription pain relievers is a serious global problem that affects the health, social, and economic welfare of all societies. It is estimated that between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States
Being a parent of a teenager struggling with addiction is an extremely difficult situation to be in. While many teens simply experiment with alcohol and drugs, some of them end up with problems and addiction. We’ll explore the relationship between a teen addict and their parent(s), and discuss ways to help what might seem like
Some researchers estimate 1 in 10 people have substance abuse problems. Chances are, someone you knows is struggling with addiction. The problem is knowing who. The biggest difficulty in treating addiction is denial that the addiction even exists. Suggesting that someone is an addict can be offensive. This is partly because addiction is thought of
We are quick to point fingers in many situations when we make a mistake, when something goes wrong, or when someone ends up hurt. We’ve all been here. How about the time you stopped for coffee in the morning before work and turned around—not looking—and bumped right into someone, spilling a full cup of coffee
MDMA, also known as ecstasy, has many myths surrounding it. Although there are aspects of truth in these mountains of fiction, it is important to fully understand exactly what ecstasy is and what it can do. Ecstasy is a psychoactive drug that causes feelings of euphoria, warmth, and love towards others, in addition to warping
Step 2 of the Alcoholics Anonymous program is essentially a stage of hope. It is about understanding that you are not alone, and that you don’t have to be miserable and in pain. Step 2 is about believing that a higher power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity and peace. The key point
Percocet is one of the most commonly abused pain medications in the United States. Developing an addiction to the medication doesn’t simply mean the user is physically dependent on it. There are specific signs that signify an addiction, and we’ll explore them here. Made from a combination of oxycontin and acetaminophen, Percocet is prescribed
Is it possible to force teenagers into rehab for addiction treatment? Of course. But, does it actually help? The percentage of teens who are mandated to attend rehab via the court system varies, but it generally around 60-65%. There are many factors to take into consideration to answer whether it works, and we’ll explore when
OxyContin is an opioid pain medication, or narcotic, which is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is meant to be used as an around-the-clock treatment of pain rather than on an as-needed basis. When used properly, the medication can relieve pain for up to 12 hours, but when used in excess it can
Crack cocaine abuse has become a worldwide problem, and over 8.5 million people have admitted to using the drug at least once during their lives. The reason crack abuse is so problematic is because if its dependence liabilities and its ability to cause cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, and respiratory problems. We’ll explore how crack cocaine dependence
