Substance abuse disorder, typically referred to as drug and alcohol addiction, affects millions of Americans aged 12 and up. With some studies showing that 1 in 10 Americans will suffer a substance use disorder during their lifetime, addiction affects a shockingly large number of Americans. At the same time, opioid use disorder is responsible
Struggling with an addiction is a life-impacting problem. Substance-use disorders affect your ability to make good decisions, behave in an empathetic way, to prioritize the right things, to earn money, to be there for your children, and to progress in your life. No matter what you are on, substance dependence inhibits your ability to
Safe injection sites, or Supervised Injection Sites (SiS) are increasingly controversial as the concept becomes more prevalent across the United States, but what does science say? If you’re a parent or one of your loved ones is using or addicted, it can be easy to say that no, safe injection sites aren’t good, they
In 2018, Gabapentin was the 5th most prescribed drug in the nation. Today, it is quickly raising alarms as a substance that has a high risk of addiction and abuse. The drug, which is commonly prescribed under the brand-name Neurontin, is used to treat seizures, neuropathic conditions, and pain. Today, states across
Cocaine is abused by more than 1.5 million people in the United States, making it one of the most popular street drugs in the country. Despite being illegal since the 1970s, cocaine remains popular for both one-off and long-term use, with many considering cocaine to be relatively harmless and less addictive than
Going to rehab is a huge step and often one that people put off for as long as possible. The simple step of going often means admitting that you have a problem and one you can’t fix yourself, which doesn’t line up with how many people see themselves or want those around them to
Humans have consumed mushrooms for as long as we have written records, and most likely well before. Our cultural associations with fungi date back to tribal times, when mushrooms were often considered special and even sacred. This deep spiritual connection with mushrooms spans the world – from Mesoamerica to the deepest parts of Africa
ome of the facts about alcoholism are a bit shocking. For example, did you know that alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, is one of the most common diseases in the United States? With an estimated 24.7 million Americans meeting the criterion for alcohol use disorder, 12.5% or 1 in 8 Americans has a problem.
Detoxing, or the process of withdrawing from a substance, is the first and one of the more important steps of addiction recovery. Detox is arguably the most important part of recovery in that, without detoxing, you can never go on to seek out or receive treatment. At the same time, less than 10% of Americans
Most people know drug rehab as a short 30-day stay in a treatment center, followed by either no program or light support in the form of a 12-step group or similar self-help group. Long-term rehab subverts this standard model of 30-day treatment to make room for patients who need longer-term care. Rather than creating
