With the frequent use of Xanax as a treatment for anxiety disorders, many people have gone beyond the recommended use in an attempt to feel calmer and more in control of their lives. It is strange that the very medication used to give relief to those suffering from anxiety, stress, phobias, and panic attacks is [...]
Mothers who want to keep their children off drugs later in life should start early – very early – suggests a Duke University study in conjunction with Australia’s University of Adelaide. The study results suggest that by being attentive and nurturing early in a child’s development, mothers can cause changes at the brain level that [...]
In 1996 Purdue Pharma introduced a new painkiller called OxyContin. Within just four years, sales of the drug went from $48 million to $1.16 billion. By 2004 OxyContin was a leading drug of abuse in the United States. How did this happen so fast?
After some time being in the background of drugs of choice, you’d think that we’d have heroin abuse and addiction pretty much licked. You’d be wrong. One thing that has proven true time and time again is that drug abuse trends are somewhat cyclical. What is in vogue today is likely to be some variant [...]
With the rise in use of opioid painkillers, we have also seen a rise in people addicted to the medication. The challenge within the industry is that there is still confusion among doctors, patients and even journalists over what abuse or addiction actually means.
While it may be chilling to think of the family physician or specialist you see having a problem with drugs or alcohol, the reality is that doctors are no more immune to substance abuse than the general public. In general, according to various studies, the rates of illicit drug use among doctors is less than [...]
Cocaine addiction may not be something anyone would set out to develop, but the reality is that too many people have developed this addiction and lives are lost as a result. Doctors and scientists continue to focus on research to better understand the addiction and potential treatments, but there is still much work to do.
For those who find it increasingly difficult to stay awake – despite an appropriate amount of sleep – medication may be introduced for treatment and relief. While such an approach can help to improve the outlook for the individual, no medication is without risk and the individual should be fully informed before starting any type [...]
Maybe you think smoking a little weed now and then is harmless. Perhaps your children told you this or perhaps you smoked marijuana when you were growing up. What’s wrong with getting a little buzz to take the edge off? Marijuana isn’t addictive, is it? Well, contrary to proponents of legalization of marijuana, the truth [...]
Substance abuse is a widespread and serious problem in society today. An estimated 17.8 million Americans aged 18 or older are current illicit drug users. Of this number, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an estimated 12.9 million people (72.7 percent) are employed either full or part-time. The number of [...]
