People often use the terms opiate vs opioid interchangeably. However, there are some differences between the two classifications of drugs. Regardless of the difference, both drugs can be highly addictive after repeated use. People who take prescription medications may develop a dependency on opiates or opioids due to their potency. Opiate vs opioid withdrawal symptoms…
Is marijuana a gateway drug? This question is one people have been asking for decades. While there is some truth to this assertion, the issue is much larger than just smoking marijuana. Furthermore, it can apply to almost any substance, including alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription medication. Using any substance that alters brain function can potentially…
Identity plays a complicated role in addiction. Studies have found that younger people with no clear sense of identity, especially social identity, are at greater risk of associating with people who use drugs and alcohol. These groups are an easy way to find social acceptance and form a social identity. Being part of such a…
A substance use disorder can have many negative effects on your life, damaging your relationships, finances, career, and health. Perhaps most disturbing is the way substance use changes your brain. Your neurotransmitter levels change to adjust to the presence of the substance and brain imaging studies suggest the structure of your brain actually changes with…
Teens, especially younger teens, are often limited in their access to alcohol and illicit drugs. They typically lack the money and connections to get alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. However, they can be resourceful in the face of these obstacles. There are several common household items that can alter your consciousness just as powerfully as…
A substance use disorder can demolish your self-esteem. It can impair your career, possibly leading to unemployment, it can damage your relationships and alienate you from the people who care about you, and, perhaps most importantly, it can make you feel like you have no control over your life. Recovering your self-esteem is an important…
While the opioid epidemic has been getting all the attention in recent years, the rapidly growing problem of stimulant addiction has gone mostly unnoticed. While opioids are certainly a bigger problem at the moment, having caused nearly 50,000 deaths in the US in 2017, at the current rate of growth, stimulants will soon catch up.…
For many women, motherhood is the motivation they need to finally get sober. One day, they’re just being young, having fun, maybe a bit too much fun, then they find out they’re pregnant and decide to deal seriously with their substance use. Having a baby can be a wakeup call, but it doesn’t make sobriety…
Anyone who has had a loved one who struggles with substance use has probably been frustrated by that person’s evasiveness, stubbornness, and lying. Deception and secrecy are common characteristics of addiction, but people who struggle with addiction don’t just lie to others; they lie to themselves as well. Here are some common lies people with…
Every year, about 20 million Americans struggle with some kind of substance use issue. For every one of these, there are many more spouses, siblings, parents, children, and friends whose lives are affected by a loved one’s addiction. All of these people feel a sense of cautious optimism whenever their loved one agrees to treatment…
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