Mixing caffeine and alcohol is a bad idea. Although the FDA has cracked down on caffeinated alcoholic beverages such as Four Loko–both because they found these drinks were unsafe and because the makers were marketing them to teens–mixing caffeine and alcohol is still common practice, especially among binge drinkers. Adding caffeine and other stimulants to…
Addiction can happen to anyone, regardless of age. And everyone has a different experience of addiction. It’s not uncommon to think that maybe it’s too late for you to recover from addiction. Maybe you’ve struggled with substance use for a long time. Maybe you’ve burned a lot of bridges, alienated people who cared about you,…
With marijuana legalization for either recreational or medical use spreading across the US, Americans’ attitudes towards marijuana are quickly changing. More people see marijuana use as safe and socially acceptable. While marijuana does appear to be safer and less addictive than many substances, especially when only used occasionally, there are still risks associated with it,…
Recreational marijuana is now legal in nine states, including Colorado and Nevada, and medical marijuana is now legal in 31 states, including New Mexico. The stigma attached to marijuana is fading and it is becoming more socially acceptable. While preliminary studies have not found significantly more people are using marijuana after it becomes legal, that…
The young adult years, particularly between 18 and 25, are a dangerous time for drug and alcohol use. The earlier someone starts using drugs or alcohol, the more likely she will develop a substance use disorder later on. Drugs and alcohol can also harm developing brains, leading to lower IQ and less self-control as adults.…
Smoking kills about 480,000 Americans every year. It’s a major factor in lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory infections. Fortunately, the rate of smoking in the US has dropped significantly over the past 50 years and fewer people than ever are smoking. This is especially true of young people. However, there is now a new…
THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Its structure is very similar to a chemical called anandamide, which occurs naturally in the brain. Anandamide is a kind of neurotransmitter called an endogenous cannabinoid, meaning it’s a cannabis-like chemical made by your brain. Anandamide affects various brain areas, including those related to pleasure, memory, concentration,…
About 72,000 Americans died of a drug overdose in 2017, and at least two thirds of those deaths were opioid related. The opioid crisis has been driven by overprescription of opioid painkillers over the past 30 years. Opioid manufacturers convinced doctors that pain was being undertreated and that opioid medications were non-addictive and safe for…
We’ve come a long way in our understanding of addiction and addiction treatment and we’re still learning more all the time. Unfortunately, many myths and misconceptions still persist. These can create all kinds of problems for people struggling with addiction and the families of those people. These myths may lead people to take unnecessary risks…
After treatment, joining a mutual aid group is a good way to continue in recovery. Attending regular meetings is a good way to reaffirm your commitment to recovery and review the lessons you learned in treatment. It’s also a great way to build a sober network. A strong sober network is one of the best…
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