It might feel daunting to imagine planning alternative activities for yourself besides drinking. Before now, most of your experience of “fun” involved alcohol. Now that you want to make a shift to sobriety, you can’t go to any of your old hangouts, so what is there left to do? But, as the 3rd largest city in North America by population, Los Angeles has many alternative sober activities besides just drinking. Book-ended on either side by mountains and the ocean, LA’s opportunities for recreation, cultural enrichment, and leisure are nearly endless. You could spend a lifetime never leaving LA an ..read more

You might not have given much thought to your roommate’s habits before you switched to a sober lifestyle. But now that you’ve begun to reexamine your old habits, you’ve started identifying some triggers for your addictive behavior. And, very often, the people who closely surround us have an outsized influence on our behavior. Finding a sober roommate should be a top priority for you now that you’re on the recovery trajectory away from addiction. If the sight or smell of your roommate taking drugs or drinking alcohol could be an obstacle to your recovery, then you need to find someone to live w ..read more

Adderall is used to manage the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects thoughts and behaviors.[1] It’s not uncommon for anxiety symptoms to manifest with ADHD, which can be challenging for those affected, but Adderall isn’t likely to improve the anxiety. In fact, it can make the symptoms of anxiety worse. What Is Adderall? Adderall is a combination stimulant medication with amphetamine and dextroamphetamine that’s used to treat ADHD. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain and can improv ..read more

Modafinil and Adderall are medications that produce stimulant-like effects and are both used in the treatment of narcolepsy. However, they have different chemical structures, which contributes to their distinct side effects and addiction potential.[1] They’re both used in the treatment of narcolepsy and may be misused – without a prescription – as study aids for college students. There are significant differences in the way modafinil and Adderall are structured, which impacts their side effects and addiction potential. What Is Modafinil? Modafinil, which goes by the brand name Provigil, is a c ..read more

What is Vicodin? Vicodin is a combination drug with a high potential for abuse, containing the opioid hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is among the most widely illegally distributed prescription opioids.[1] Incidentally, it is almost exclusively administered within the United States. Acetaminophen toxicity is responsible for 56,000 ER visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths every year.[2] It’s also the most common cause of liver transplantation in the US.[3] What is Hydrocodone? Hydrocodone is an opioid receptor agonist. Hydrocodone is 1.5x stronger than morphine, and as such ..read more

Adderall is a prescription drug used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.[1] It improves working memory and focus in ADHD and wakefulness in narcolepsy, making it crucial for people who struggle with these conditions and a drug that is at a high risk for abuse. Prescription Adderall pills can come in various shapes and colors. The FDA receives over 100,000 reports of suspected medication errors each year.[2] It’s important to know what Adderall looks like to ensure you’re taking the right medication, or in the case of suspected Adderall abuse in a ..read more

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive stimulant that can cause serious short- and long-term effects, including addiction and overdose.[1] Based on research from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 101,000 people aged 12 or older used meth in 2021.[2] Meth is a growing problem. It’s important to recognize the signs of meth use and abuse to help your loved ones. What Is Meth? Meth is a powerful central nervous system (CNS) stimulant with a high potential for misuse and dependence. It’s classed as a Schedule II substance.[3] Though some methamphetamine is produced in the pharmac ..read more

What Is XANAX®? XANAX® is a medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of generalized anxiety and panic disorders. As a member of the benzodiazepine class of medication, XANAX® works on the central nervous system to calm and relax the body and brain. It is also known by the generic name Alprazolam. What Does XANAX® Do? XANAX® works directly on the GABA-A receptors found in our central nervous system to reduce restlessness, hypervigilance, nervousness, derealization, and other symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. It may also be prescribed for insomnia, premenstrual ..read more

If you find yourself in legal trouble involving drugs or alcohol – or you enter a substance abuse treatment program – you may be required to complete a substance abuse evaluation. Naturally, this situation can be nerve-wracking, but you can ease the anxiety if you know what to expect from the experience. Find out more about undergoing a substance abuse evaluation, the different types, and why they’re important for creating individualized care programs. What Is a Substance Abuse Evaluation? A substance abuse evaluation, also known as a drug and alcohol evaluation, is an assessment of a perso ..read more

Drug-induced psychosis (DIP) is a psychiatric condition in which a person experiences a separation from reality due to significant and prolonged drug intake. This can include symptoms such as hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there).  It may also include symptoms like delusions (believing that someone is inherently superior with no evidence) or paranoia (believing terrible things with no evidence). People who take drugs for significant periods are at greater risk for DIP. Facts About Drug-Induced Psychosis Drug-induced psychosis is a type of psychosis that o ..read more