OPIOIDS, OPIATES, AND NARCOTICS
Most of us tend to use the words opioid, opiate, and narcotic interchangeably, but it turns out there’s a difference. Opiates, sometimes called natural opioids, are natural substances that come from opium, which is extracted from the opium poppy. Some examples of these are morphine and codeine. Heroin, which is derived from morphine, is also […]
DRUG MISCONCEPTIONS
There is a lot of misinformation out there surrounding drugs – things that will supposedly get you high, things that aren’t addictive, things that won’t harm your health, etc. The following are just a few of the biggest misconceptions about both drug use and addiction treatment. Smoking heroin is safer than injecting it. It’s true […]
CBD AND PAIN RELIEF
When you think of professions that are likely to leave people with chronic pain, professional athletes are probably at the top of the list. They demand so much of their bodies that they’re seen as over the hill by the time they hit their 40s, and it seems like there’s always some big star sitting […]
RISK FACTORS FOR CANNABIS USE DISORDER
One of the concerns about the growing legalization of marijuana is that people will abuse it rather than using it responsibly. Many people believe that marijuana is both safer and less addictive than other drugs, but there is such a thing as cannabis use disorder. Currently, much attention is placed on preventing adolescents from using […]
CALIFORNIA CANNABIS FARMERS SUE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
The issue of marijuana legalization has always been a complicated one. You’ve got people who use marijuana for medical reasons, people who use it for recreational reasons, people who think that it’s a gateway to harder drugs, and people who think that any drug use at all is a sign of a moral failing. Even […]
DRUG USE THROUGHOUT HISTORY
You frequently hear people decrying the moral decay in today’s world. They point to the opioid crisis or other illegal drug use and say, “This wouldn’t have happened back in my day,” or “This is because of all those television shows/movies/video games.” Putting aside the fact that addiction has nothing to do with morality, it’s […]
CANNABIS EDIBLES
It’s long been a joke in television and movies – some straight-laced adults decide to sample a pan of brownies they find laying around, and the next thing you know they’re giggling uncontrollably and eating everything in sight. While marijuana-infused brownies, or pot brownies, are certainly a popular method of ingestion, there are limitless possibilities when […]
LEGALIZING DRUGS
Of all the debates surrounding drug abuse, perhaps the most divided is the question of whether all drugs should be legalized. Proponents of decriminalization say that most of the harm caused by drug abuse comes from the unregulated market for drugs. With no standards in place and no one to regulate them, producers and distributors […]
COMBATING ANXIETY WITHOUT DRUGS OR ALCOHOL
One of the many reasons that people turn to drugs and alcohol is to deal with mental health issues like anxiety. Sometimes people are ashamed or embarrassed to admit that they need psychological help and would rather self-medicate than visit a doctor. Others might not believe in psychology period, or they don’t have insurance that […]
NICOTINE AND STRESS
Many people begin smoking because they believe that it will reduce their stress. While it is true that after you’ve been smoking for a while, trying to quit can cause you to feel irritable, anxious, and a whole host of other negative emotions, starting in the first place has absolutely no benefits. Stress is a […]