Some people have lived in the country for generations. Some people leave the hustle and bustle of city life in search of peace and quiet. For those who leave the city for life in the country, there may be at least one misperception. While it is certainly true that in leaving the urban areas, families [...]
There are organizations in place to measure drug usage in local areas and across regions and nations. It is also helpful to have a broad understanding of global trends in drug use and its consequences for the global population.
Long-term changes in brain chemistry can result from the recreational use of the illegal drug commonly known as ecstasy. A new Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that the drop in serotonin levels as a result of consuming the "rave" drug can last as long as two years.
Those who push for the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes often promote the medicinal value found in its use. It has been shown to relieve pain for chronic pain sufferers without some of the unpleasant side effects found in certain other types of treatments. The drug must be fully explored for potential [...]
Researchers have long known that Ecstasy users experience memory loss, but Dutch researchers recently explored whether or not changes in the brain structure may also take place – especially in the hippocampus, the region of the brain that manages the capacity for longer-duration memory. Perhaps even more alarming are study results that suggest the loss [...]
The nonmedical use of pain relievers has become an increasing problem, with use of prescription pain relievers second only to marijuana in 2008 for illegal drug use. The Treatment Episode Data Set collects information about the primary substance of abuse when individuals are admitted to treatment facilities. A recent report from TEDS data compares characteristics [...]
Steroids have been a part of some athletes’ muscle-building strategies for decades, first emerging on the health scene originally in 1930s. During this time, researchers created man-made forms of testosterone, a hormone responsible for many male gender traits. Sixty years later, steroids joined the list of other substances that are controlled by law with the [...]
For those individuals who must have any type of medical procedure done that will require pain, anesthetic is a very good thing. This medication allows for the temporary reduction or elimination of sensation. It is the medicine used when surgery is to be performed, while it is also used when a tooth needs to be [...]
While methamphetamines have been a drug of choice when prescriptions are not needed in Utah, heroin has found a new fan base and prescription drug use is becoming more expensive.
Inhalants are some of the most widely used materials to achieve a quick high. They are inexpensive and readily available, and especially attractive to teenagers. Inhalant users are also sometimes battling other problems, such as antisocial behavior. A recent study looked at the associations between inhalant use, inhalant use disorders and antisocial behavior. Howard, Perron, [...]
