It’s not unusual for people to use alcohol to alleviate anxiety. However, the relationship between anxiety and alcohol use disorder can become a dangerous, self-perpetuating cycle. Scientific research reveals how habitual drinking amplifies symptoms of anxiety or vice versa. Outside of the medical community, the internet is flooded with information and forums discussing how quitting…
Am I addicted to Klonopin? The popular and potent anti-anxiety medication increases the risk potential for abuse. Learn about Klonopin addiction warning signs below. Klonopin (clonazepam) was developed to treat epileptic seizures and address various forms of panic disorders. The prescription medication is a potentially habit-forming benzodiazepine and should be taken with extreme caution and…
As a standalone substance, benzodiazepines pose many adverse health effects. Taking a benzodiazepine boosts dopamine levels in the brain, which induces a pleasant state of relaxation. Although this highly addictive prescription medication is meant for short-term treatment, many people take it for months and even years. Originally designed to treat anxiety, pills like Xanax and…
Across the nation, communities are riddled with fears of the growing drug epidemics, impacting millions of families. Overdose increases, however, are not due to illicit drugs like cocaine and ecstasy but legal medications prescribed by licensed physicians. Most cities and rural communities are witnessing a rise in methamphetamine use annually, but a perhaps more dangerous…
Adderall is a stimulant medication that doctors often prescribe to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stimulants are known to lessen ADHD symptoms in 70% to 80% of people taking them.. However, Adderall is increasingly misused as a study aid among teenagers and college students. In the workforce, the potential for Adderall abuse is exceedingly…
Science has made incredible breakthroughs in studying the impacts of alcohol and drugs and, ultimately, ways in which effective treatment—including medications—can potentially assist tens of thousands in overcoming substance abuse. However, one question continues to plague experts and the public in general: why do people do drugs? Gaining a new perspective on drug use causes…
When it comes to mental health, most people tend not to have an established vocabulary, making it more difficult to voice mental health struggles. At times, it can seem impossible to unravel the emotions we’re experiencing, much less explain them to others. However, ignoring negative emotions or being unable to adequately express how we feel…
As the nation faces a healthcare pandemic and struggles to gain footing on a mounting addiction epidemic, heightened stress and anxiety levels have become the new norm. Still, there are plenty of misconceptions and myths surrounding dual diagnosis for mental health and substance misuse. That’s why now is a critical time to better understand PTSD…
Nationally recognized columnist, Karie Fugett, published a gripping narrative about her late husband, Cleve Fugett, a Marine war hero who, in 2010, tragically lost his life to a prescription opioid overdose. During his second deployment in Iraq, Cleve’s Humvee was hit by an IED, leaving the military vet with an amputated leg, PTSD, and a…
Drug incarceration statistics are revealing prevalent issues that may actually be negatively impacting ongoing drug use and addiction recovery. In 2020, Oregon became the first state to move toward decriminalization. On November 3, Oregon voters forced significant reforms providing a new tactic to address the disease of addiction head-on, ultimately attempting to upend America’s decades-long…