CIGARETTES AS A GATEWAY DRUG
There has long been a debate about whether marijuana is a gateway drug, but what about regular cigarettes? Studies have shown that as many as 75% of adults with substance use disorders also have a history of cigarette smoking. Nicotine may cause increased cravings for stimulants and opiates. If you continue to smoke or begin smoking […]
NICOTINE ADDICTION
Only about six percent of smokers are able to quit in any given year. Most people trying to stop will need to make multiple attempts before they are able to quit permanently. There are medications that can help you quit smoking, and behavioral therapy is effective as well. There are a variety of reasons why […]
E-CIGARETTE USE ON THE RISE
Since electronic cigarettes were first introduced in 2004, there has been a debate over whether they can help wean people off conventional cigarettes and whether they are more or less safe to use. Although some – mostly people in the industry – continue to argue the health benefits, the Food and Drug Administration disagrees. In […]
ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTE TAXES
Taxes on alcohol and nicotine products, sometimes called sin taxes, are applied in addition to regular sales taxes. They are collected from alcohol and cigarette producers and distributors and applied as a certain amount per unit sold, such as three dollars per pack of cigarettes. These costs are then passed down to the consumer by […]
PREPARING A TEEN FOR CYBERBULLYING
There are many reasons a teenager (or anyone, really) might start abusing drugs or alcohol. Problems at school, with friends or romantic conquests, stress, anxiety, depression, mental health issues – the list is all but endless. One thing that has driven many young people to substance abuse – and unfortunately, to suicide as well – […]
IS SUBOXONE ADDICTIVE?
Suboxone is a medication that can help people overcome addiction to opioids and the symptoms of withdrawal. It’s been called a safer alternative to methadone, although it’s still a controlled substance. Suboxone is a combination of two different drugs: buprenorphine (a partial opioid agonist) and naloxone (a pure opioid antagonist). An agonist is a drug that activates […]
BULLYING AND ADDICTION
Bullying is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior. It usually involves a power imbalance, either real or imagined, and is repeated over a period of time. Bullying that takes place in childhood can have a negative impact on the rest of someone’s life. It can be physical, where the bully assaults his victim by hitting, kicking, […]
GET THROUGH AND OVERCOME WITHDRAWALS
Yes, it is true that numerous addicts abuse prescription painkillers, but this is not always the case. As a result of taking powerful painkillers post-op or to treat chronic pain conditions, individuals develop opioid addictions. Thousands of people each year die as a result of opioid use. As the body adapts to opioids it forms a dependency for the substance. Over […]
COCAINE AND YOUR BRAIN
A survey in 2013 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that over 1.5 million Americans admit using cocaine. This number has steadily climbed over the years for users as young as 12-years of age. Cocaine is a harmful drug that is made with coca leaves soaked in kerosene or diesel […]
INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
We’ve all heard of someone being involuntarily committed for mental health problems because they pose a danger to themselves or others, but can someone be committed for substance abuse? The answer is, it depends. Commitment laws exist to protect people with a mental health disorder from hurting themselves or causing harm to others. These laws […]