National Drug and Alcohol Week
National Drug and Alcohol Week is an awareness week that was started by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2010 to raise awareness for teenagers about the myths and dangers of alcohol and drugs. This campaign focuses on using science to educate young minds how drugs and alcohol affect both the mind and […]…
Panic disorders and Their Tie to Valium Addiction
Valium, diazepam, is a long-acting benzodiazepine, that is often used, against recommendation, to treat anxiety disorders such as panic disorder. Benzodiazepines commonly referred to as “nerve pills” have been widely used since the 1960’s for alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, insomnia, and seizures, however are now known to be extremely dangerous and addictive and therefore are recommended […]…
Teenage Addiction and Self-Harm: Co-occurring Disorders
Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder, better known as self-harm, is characterized by the purposeful actions of causing physical harm to oneself without the intention of committing suicide. Cutting and burning are the two most common types of self-injury behavior. This behavior is more common in teenagers and adolescents and occurs due to severe underlying emotional pain and […]…
Netflix documentary “Heroin(e) Highlights Opioid Documentary
The opioid epidemic has been ravishing through the United State of America since the 1990’s and it has been worsening over the years. According to statistics from the Center for Disease Control, the number of individuals who have died from opioid overdose since 1999 has nearly quadrupled and in 2014, the most recent year for […]…
Understanding Xanax Addiction: What Does Xanax Do?
Xanax, formally know as alprazolam, is a short-acting benzodiazepine, that is used to treat anxiety disorders including panic disorder. It is also used to help wean individuals from alcohol dependence in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal, which can lead to seizures. Benzodiazepines are also known for their strong addiction potential and have resulted in approximately […]…
Is Fast Food the New Painkiller?
The addiction circuit in the brain is wired to release dopamine, a feel good neurotransmitter that is increased in the limbic system whenever a pleasurable sensation enters the body. Many individuals relate addiction to drugs and alcohol however food addiction is a true addiction that can result in unhealthy behaviors both mentally and physically and […]…
Obstacles Teens Encounter when Entering Drug Addiction Rehab
The teenage years can be challenging. Navigating through puberty, peer pressure and tackling raging hormones in addition to balancing school and home life can seem very stressful in the moment. Teenager’s brains are not fully developed and they are more at risk for rash decision-making, which partially is the reason why teenagers engage in risky […]…
Risky Business: Habits and Behaviors that Increase the Risk of Developing a Mental Health Disorder
According to statistics, approximately one in five Americans will be affected by a mental health condition at least once in their lifetime and this impact has a major ripple effect on their friends and family. Four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the United States and other developed countries are mental health disorders, […]…
Debunking Common Addiction Treatment Myths
Addiction is defined by the inability to abstain from a drug craving or unhealthy behavior, which results in biological and psychological manifestations that ultimately cause self harm and even harm to others. Addiction is often treated in professional settings known as rehabilitation. Approximately 2.5 million people in the United States entered a substance abuse rehabilitation […]…
Common Street Drugs That You Probably Have Never Heard of
Drug abuse has plagued the American continent since the 1800s, when morphine, heroin and cocaine were hailed for their amazing curative properties. In the 1960s many new and exotic drugs, such as hallucinogens, benzodiazepines, amphetamines and marijuana, became readily available and the street drug trend became a booming industry. People from all walks of life […]…