WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU FIND YOUR TEEN’S DRUG STASH
You’ve been worried about your teenage child for a while now. His usual adolescent sullenness was replaced by something angrier. He’s been secretive and defensive, trying to keep you out of his bedroom at all costs. He’s started hanging around with a new crowd that you don’t approve of. His grades have plummeted, and he’s […]
ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE IN WOMEN
Drug and alcohol use affects men and women differently, on both a physical and psychological level. Scientists have discovered female-specific issues that can impact women’s struggles with drug use, such as hormones, menstrual cycle, fertility, and menopause. Sex hormones can make women more sensitive than men to the effects of some drugs. In addition, women […]
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
It’s obvious to even the layperson that women’s bodies differ from men’s, both inside and out, but how does this affect the way different genders should be treated for substance abuse? The difference is particularly noticeable when it comes to alcohol use. Women tend to weigh less than men, meaning it takes less of a […]
AGING AND ADDICTION
Addiction isn’t just a problem for the young. It’s actually more common in people 55 and over. There are several reasons an elderly person might turn to drugs or alcohol, such as depression, loneliness, and financial problems. About sixty-three percent of the elderly people who are experiencing some kind of serious addiction problem has been […]
HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION
Homelessness can be both a cause and an effect of substance abuse. The 100,000 Homes Campaign, an initiative designed to help communities place homeless people in permanent homes, conducted a survey of more than 30,100 homeless people from across the country. Nearly 60 percent of the participants had a substance abuse problem. Among youths in […]
MINORITIES AND ADDICTION
In 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a study on the number of minorities currently using drugs. The results were as follows: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders,15.6 percent. American Indians and Alaska Natives, 14.9 percent. African Americans, 12.4 percent. Hispanics, 8.9 percent. Asian Americans, 4.1 percent. The national average […]
THE METH RELAPSE PREVENTION DRUG
Treating substance abuse disorders can be a complex proposition. Some treatments and medications work for certain drugs but not others, and some substances don’t respond to medications at all. Researchers are constantly searching for new compounds to treat everything from overdose to withdrawal to cravings. Recently, scientists discovered that a compound that was first developed […]
CAN ILLICIT DRUGS CURE YOU WHEN YOU’RE ILL?
Of all the strange things people believe about illegal drug use, the idea that getting high can cure a cold or flu has to be near the top of the “how would that even be possible?” list. If you ask drug users you might know or go digging through Reddit threads, you’ll see a lot […]
ESTABLISHING CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR TEEN’S DRUG USE
If your teenager has been using drugs or alcohol, you might wonder how to reaffirm your authority over him. Particularly if they are nearing adulthood, teens tend to view themselves as too old to be grounded and may argue or just storm out of the house when you try to confront them. Setting rules and […]
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND BODY WEIGHT
If you’ve ever spent time around a group of dancers or models, you might have been surprised at the number of them with a nicotine habit. Why would people who need to take such good care of their bodies smoke? One reason is that nicotine can be an appetite suppressant, which means it may help […]