PLAIN PACKAGING ON CIGARETTES
In recognition of the global health crisis caused by smoking, in 2008 the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommended that cigarettes come in standardized or plain packaging. These means that all packages would be the same color, with the same font and no logos or other distinguishing features apart from the brand […]
FDA PROPOSES LIMITS ON NICOTINE
Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths every year in the United States. More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking, such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What if we could slash these numbers with one simple regulatory change? The U.S. […]
ADDICTION AND YOUR APPEARANCE
In addition to all of the other mental and physical tolls substance abuse can take on a person, it can significantly change your outward appearance. Different drugs have different effects, but generally speaking, weight changes, skin conditions, dark circles under the eyes, and bad teeth are good indicators. Drugs can also cause nutritional deficiencies, which […]
CHILDREN AND DRUG USE
Illicit drugs include LSD and other hallucinogens, narcotics including heroin and various pills, cocaine, barbiturates, tranquilizers without a doctor’s orders, and cocaine. Sadly, these drugs have made their way into schools across the nation. A report published in 2015 found that nearly one in every six 12th grade students in the United States reported using an illicit drug […]
DUAL DIAGNOSIS
Many people diagnosed with a substance use disorder also suffer from a co-occurring mental health or behavioral disorder. This is known as a dual diagnosis. Individuals with a dual diagnosis require a special treatment plan that acknowledges both disorders as interconnected mental health issues. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 45 […]
BULLYING AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
One of the major factors in substance abuse among children and teens is bullying. Kids will often start using drugs or drinking in order to drown out feelings of depression, low self-esteem, and isolation. They may also do it as a way to fit in, if they think their peers will accept them if they […]
GUILT AND RECOVERY
Many people, whether they are addicts or not, will deal at some point in their lives with remorse or sadness over actions that have hurt others. It may not be a pleasant feeling, but it’s important to face it head on without letting it consume you. Much like overcoming a fear, once you face your […]
DO YOU HAVE TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM BEFORE RECOVERY?
You’ve probably heard it before – “I had to hit rock bottom before I realized I needed help.” It’s true that you can’t force someone to recover from addiction unless they accept that they need it, but somewhere along the line we’ve decided that this point doesn’t come until the addict has hit the lowest […]
FORMALDEHYDE IN E-CIGARETTES
It sounds like one of those urban legends or sensational headlines meant to scare the public – “Electronic cigarettes contain deadly formaldehyde!” In 2015, however, researchers from Portland State University in Oregon published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine claiming just that. They had detected the presence of previously undiscovered forms of formaldehyde in […]
MARIJUANA FOR GLAUCOMA
For a lot of people, the first they heard of marijuana being used for medical purposes was probably as a treatment for glaucoma. Some people might argue that because marijuana is natural, in the sense that it’s derived from a plant, it’s a safer or healthier alternative to human-made drug treatments. But is it actually […]