Despite what stigma teaches people, it is possible to be a good person and be addicted to drugs or alcohol. It is possible to be a good parent while fighting to overcome a substance use disorder (SUD), and it is vital that mothers feel safe when seeking help. Sadly, the threat of arrest and prosecution frightens most pregnant and nursing mothers away from getting the quality healthcare and treatment that they deserve. Past research has shown that addicted women face their deadliest year after giving birth. Now, healthcare professionals who spend every day on the front lines with patients, inc ..read more

As the drug problem in America continues to evolve, many believe beneath the ever-present opioid crisis is another drug epidemic just as dangerous. Another common element of prescription drug abuse has been amphetamine medications like Adderall. Meanwhile, the use of illicit methamphetamine has also seen a new wave in recent years. According to a review recently published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, data suggests there is a connection between the methamphetamine use and stroke risk for young people. Breakdown of Methamphetamine Abuse Methamphetamine is a po ..read more

Fighting for Public Health America’s opioid epidemic has paved the way for a lot of new challenges. Frequently, these problems call for new strategies. The overdose outbreak led to staggering death rates, as well as a new wave of harm reduction techniques. Crackdowns on prescription opioids led to an influx in heroin use, and lethal synthetic opioids further exacerbated the issue. Meanwhile, other adverse health effects took root and began to deteriorate communities even further. In 2017, 47,600 people in the United States lost their lives to opioid overdoses. Since 1999, that number has reac ..read more

Use of Heroin During Pregnancy Using heroin during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for you and your baby. The same can be said for most other powerful opioids. There is no denying that the consumption of such potent substances put both you and your unborn child at risk. However, the stigma surrounding heroin use with mothers or pregnant women is a terrible barrier that keeps women from seeking help. Therefore, women struggling with heroin during pregnancy should be given every opportunity to receive comprehensive treatment in a supportive environment. When looking for help with her ..read more

Addiction in the Home It is safe to say that a lot of young people have their first experience with drugs when they are still young enough to be in school. It might be due to exposure to other people using drugs, or being offered drugs by their peers. Needless to say, if someone in the home is using drugs or alcohol, the experience can have a noticeable impact on a young person’s social life and education. Therefore, the fact that teachers are witnessing rising rates of students impacted by substance use disorder at home is troubling, to say the least. Survey of Substance Use Disorder in Stud ..read more

Controversy and Cannabis Restrictions The Sunshine State officially approved medical marijuana just two years ago, joining the growing movement in America for cannabis reform. However, even as the state embraced medicinal benefits of marijuana, there were still plenty of restrictions established to limit use of the substance. One of the most controversial restrictions was the ban on smoking medical marijuana. However, Florida officials have now lifted the ban on selling marijuana buds in the state, effectively making it legal for medical marijuana patients to smoke cannabis. Medical Marijuana ..read more

America’s opioid crisis continues, and by many accounts, it is worse than ever. Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die from an opioid overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Illicit drugs such as heroin or fentanyl contribute to staggering overdose rates across the country. Meanwhile, prescription painkillers have been a huge part of the growing problem. Many opioid medications have been part of the problem, including well-known brand name medications like Percocet. So what are some of the important facts for fighting Percocet addiction? Drug Fact ..read more

How Triggers Influence Relapse Today we understand that addiction is far more than just poor choices that lead to physical consequences, such as dependence and withdrawal. Evidence shows that the true nature of substance use disorder is complex, and psychology plays a major role. Furthermore, it isn’t just about what leads people to addiction. It is also important to understand how the brain adapts to the addiction. Moreover, how the mind associates outside elements with drug use.  When an outside influence causes cravings to use drugs or alcohol, the external factor is often called a tr ..read more

Controversy is nothing new to the kratom scene. In recent years, the compounds usefulness and safety as a therapeutic agent has been considered questionable. Many attribute this to the limited amount of quality research available. For years, supporters have been shouting that the substance is safe and natural medicine that is being wrongfully stigmatized. However, new research may suggest that the risks of kratom poisoning do in fact outweigh the supposed rewards. What is Kratom? To clarify, kratom is a common name for the plant called Mitragyna Speciosa. This is a tropical tree in the coffee ..read more

Midsection of a male police officer inserting drug packet in envelope during investigation In the age of the opioid crisis, new synthetic drugs have become part of the illicit drug trade. Many of these substances are even more deadly than street drugs like heroin or prescription pain medications like OxyContin. In fact, some of these chemical compounds are so potent that even law enforcement and first responders are at risk just by handling the substance. Just this week Police headquarters in Sunnyvale, California had to be evacuated after a substance suspected to be fentanyl sent multiple off ..read more