Drug Abuse

Alcoholism and abuse, otherwise known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), destroy millions of lives each year. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines AUD as a “chronic relapsing brain disorder characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control use despite adverse social, occupational, or health hazards.” The alcohol-related statistics released for Read more »

The synthetic opioid, fentanyl, is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Drug users—addicts included—normally shy away from fentanyl because it’s so lethal. Still, it’s linked to more cocaine overdoses than ever before. What’s going on? Drug dealers use fentanyl to “cut” cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs to enhance the Read more »

It’s no secret that drug use has been on the rise since 2020 came screeching to a halt in March of this year due to the pandemic. Illicit drug use may spring to mind when the topic comes up but prescriptions for anxiety medications–like benzodiazepine for instance–are being filled in droves. In fact, an Express Read more »

Contrary to that old adage, there is such a thing as a stupid question. Drug users can ask some doozies! Often, these questions pertain to drug tests, the nemesis of the drug user. A looming drug test for employment or the probation officer strikes fear in their heart. Because, sadly, they are not likely to stop Read more »

So much has been said and written about the dangers of drunk driving, and rightly so. Driving while under the influence of alcohol has already hurt and killed hurt tens of thousands of people over the last few decades. Thankfully, with the intensified public campaign about its dangers and vigorous enforcement of DUI laws, drunk Read more »

Some parents have found that marijuana legalization put an entirely different spin on the phrase getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Fessing up was the only solution. Their child got into the edible stash and they immediately sought medical help. Realizing there had been no such study, JAMA Pediatrics gathered data to Read more »