CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
According to RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), authorities respond to a report of child sexual abuse every eight minutes. Sexual abuse isn’t limited to what we typically think of as sexual activity but can include things like exposing oneself and taking or sharing pornographic images. As is the case with other traumatic […]
ADDICTION AND NEUROBIOLOGY
When scientists first started to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, people addicted to drugs or alcohol were viewed as being morally flawed and lacking in willpower. These beliefs informed society’s views of drug abuse. For decades, substance abuse was considered a moral failing rather than a health problem, which led to an emphasis on […]
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COCAINE DETOX
According to statistics provided by the United Nation, it is estimated that 17 million people worldwide used cocaine in 2012. The amazing fact to this statistic, that in the U.S. cocaine contributes to about 6,000 deaths each year. It is a stimulant that individuals seek where the is high similar to heroin that Cocaine can […]
DRUG USE AND RELIGION
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 prohibited the government from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion, even if that burden is a law that would otherwise be applicable. It applied to all current federal laws, as well as future laws that were not explicitly exempted. The Act was amended in 2003 to only […]
DECIDING ON A DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT METHOD
When the decision has been made to kick an addiction to an illegal and harmful drug, the type of treatment method that will work best is based on the patient and what type of treatment they will respond to the best. Detox programs are typically beneficial for those individuals with a severe addiction. Others may […]
HOW TO MEDITATE
With the ongoing opioid crisis taking its toll on the United States – and indeed the entire world – more and more people are looking for alternative ways to deal with pain. There are over the counter medications, exercise, physical therapy, and various other more physical pursuits that can help, but experts are increasingly suggesting […]
NON-OPIOID PAIN MANAGEMENT
The majority of people start out using prescription opioids for perfectly legal, legitimate reasons. These medications, which include oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, and morphine, are effective painkillers and can relax the body. They are safe when taken for a short time, but can easily become addictive. Doctors prescribe opioids for a variety of ailments, […]
CAN A DIABETES MEDICINE CURE COCAINE ADDICTION?
Cocaine is a stimulant that increases levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or a sort of chemical messenger, that helps control the reward and pleasure centers in the brain. It also helps to regulate emotional responses, allows us to see things as rewards, and encourages us to seek out those rewards. […]
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE TAKING PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS
Opioid medications, which include oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, and morphine, are effective but highly addictive painkillers. It’s possible to develop a dependence on these medications after just five days, yet many doctors still prescribe them for long term use. Knowing the potential dangers of opioid drugs and the number of people who are addicted […]
HOLDING OPIOID MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE
There are currently hundreds of lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of opioid prescription drugs ongoing in the United States. Opioids were involved in more than 42,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Starting in the mid-1990s, opioid manufacturers began a misleading marketing campaign that downplayed the risks […]