Drug use in its traditional sense takes many forms. Unfortunately, there is a growing and concerning from of drug use that often goes unnoticed. Students at high schools and college campuses across the U.S. today are under overwhelming pressure to not just succeed, but overachieve. Advanced placement courses, early college studies, and academic-based internships are
Last month, Wendy Williams told the world she has been secretly living in a sober house. This revelation comes on the heels of previous comments about her battles with drug addiction. It appears that the 54-year-old is undergoing treatment at a sober residential facility that specializes in alcohol and prescription drug recovery. Available evidence indicates
Opioids are a category of powerful drugs that include forms which are legal, synthetic and illicit. Most people are originally introduced to opioids through a doctor who legally prescribes them for the treatment of pain. When taken, opioid drugs produce a chemical reaction that interacts with the opioid receptors in the brain. This changes how
Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is popular for its ability to quickly produce an intense euphoric high. This illicit substance in particular is fast-acting, yet its effects are short-lived. A person who uses cocaine will experience an extreme sense of euphoria for approximately one hour, with the high peaking at about
According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, methamphetamine and cocaine overdose deaths are on the rise across the United States. In 2016, the CDC noted that 63,632 drug overdose deaths were reported, and while 66 percent of those deaths involved opioids, deadly overdoses from cocaine and other stimulants including crystal
Imodium is an over-the-counter medication, which is typically used to prevent the occurrence of diarrhea. In light of recent events, many people are asking: can you get addicted to Imodium? We know that Imodium, or loperamide hydrochloride, also slows down the intestinal movement and digestion. However, this drug has also been known as the “poor
As a drug treatment center, we hear this question many times: is medical marijuana a relapse? Let’s start with the fact that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that 9% of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it, and that
Heroin is known to be one of the most addictive drugs in the world. This illicit drug was initially derived from the poppy plant and is currently a Schedule I controlled substance. Drugs categorized as Schedule I are considered highly addictive and have no current medical use within the United States. With heroin use on
Fentanyl is a powerful prescription opioid, up to 50 times stronger than heroin, and up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl patches are prescribed to patients who experience extreme pain after surgery or suffer from chronic pain syndromes, as well as patients who have already become tolerant to other opioids. If used for
Prescription opiates can be a good choice for the treatment of pain in certain patients; however, prolonged use of these habit-forming painkillers can lead to addiction. Opiates affect how the brain reacts to pain, producing a “feel-good” sedation that confuses the brain receptors responsible for feelings of reward and pleasure. The central nervous system, respiratory system and cardiovascular
