CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS AND OPIOID REGULATIONS
We know that many people who end up addicted to opioids, whether painkillers or other drugs like heroin, start off with a legitimate need for prescription pain relief. It’s become increasingly clear in recent years that whenever possible, opioids shouldn’t be used to treat chronic pain. Doctors are facing restrictions about how many opioid prescriptions […]
ALCOHOL AND NIGHT SWEATS
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night sweating for seemingly no reason? There are several things that can cause night sweats, including menopause, low blood sugar, fevers, and certain medications. However, if you’ve previously been drinking heavily and find yourself sweating, you might be experiencing alcohol withdrawal. You don’t necessarily have […]
AM I AN ALCOHOLIC?
Many adults have gone out for a night with friends to the hot spot in town for a few drinks. Does that necessarily mean you are an alcoholic? Of course not. Drinking alcohol in itself is not healthy, but the fact that you have consumed alcohol does not mean you are an alcoholic. It is […]
ALCOHOL AND SKIN CANCER
You’ve heard that excessive drinking can cause kidney and liver problems, but did you know that it might lead to skin cancer? A study from 2017 found that for every 10-gram increase in alcohol consumed per day, there was a greater risk of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are the two main types of […]
ADDICTION AND MODERATION
Perhaps the hardest thing about substance abuse recovery, behind finding the courage to go in the first place, is learning ways to cope with your triggers and avoid relapse. One important part of this is obviously avoiding drugs or alcohol whenever possible, and in fact twelve step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous advocate for complete abstinence […]
VETERANS AND ADDICTION
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, one in ten soldiers seen by the VA after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have a problem with alcohol or drug use. Of these, almost one in three is also suffering from PTSD. Alcohol use disorders are the most prevalent, partly because drinking is often done in an […]
HARM REDUCTION
Many people with addictions either refuse to admit they have a problem or simply aren’t interested in getting sober. Although they may never agree to enter a treatment program or go to 12-step meetings, there are still some alternatives that can at least reduce their substance use or make it a little safer. Harm reduction […]
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS
We’ve all heard the stories about people claiming that seemingly ridiculous pets were actually support animals, like the woman who tried to bring her emotional support peacock on a plane. Unfortunately, sensationalized stories like this tend to cause people to view emotional support animals as a joke, when the truth is that they can be […]
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
Before a person is able to get treatment for substance abuse, they will have to have the problem diagnosed. Diagnosing a drug addiction doesn’t only depend on the physical symptoms of a drug addict. Doctors will evaluate both physical and behavioral criteria to determine if an individual has an addiction. Some of the criteria used […]
CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED FOR OPIOID-EXPOSED CHILDREN
Among individuals with an opioid use disorder, 75 percent report that their first exposure to opioids was in the form of a prescription drug. As of June 2018, more than 600 state, county, and city governments have filed lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies responsible for manufacturing opioid painkillers. Most of these lawsuits have to do […]