Substance Abuse

We are all familiar with the concept of side effects – if we stay out in the sun without sunscreen, we may get burned; if we forget coffee at the store, we won’t have any for in the morning; and if we fail to follow the instructions on our medications, we may be at risk for illness or addiction. Oxycodone is no exception. As an opioid, it has numerous side effects that users need to be aware of – from the abuse potential to the impact it may have on your weight.  What is oxycodone? Oxycodone belongs to a group [...]

There is no denying that prescription opioid medications are used frequently – one could argue too often. Such is the opioid crisis we find ourselves in. Men and women, and even young adults and teens, have not been immune to the challenges of opioid tolerance and addiction.  When prescription medications like Vicodin are prescribed to address pain and help individuals recover from surgery, for example, the pain-relieving benefits cannot be ignored. But when Vicodin is taken inappropriately, prescriptions are shared or one begins needing higher doses, it may be time to address the potentially forming addiction. What is Vicodin?  Vicodin [...]

Having a drink before bedtime to calm one’s thoughts is not unusual – it is literally called a “nightcap” for this very reason. It has the stereotype of being a good little nighttime ritual and providing a relaxed state of mind before drifting off to sleep, but is that actually what alcohol does?  Does it truly relax you enough to put you (and, more importantly, keep you) sleeping soundly throughout the course of the night? Studies contrary to popular belief say probably not.  Should you drink alcohol before bed? It is undeniable that alcohol enhances that sleepy time feel – [...]

When you are in recovery for an alcohol use disorder (AUD), you are likely to find that a sober environment during the initial stages of recovery is what you need to feel supported while minimizing the possibilities of relapse. But as your recovery progresses and you feel stronger in your resolve and ready to engage and enter into different aspects of normal life outside of treatment, you may wonder – is it okay to be around friends who still drink alcohol? Can I maintain friendships with those who drink? Whether or not you choose to be around friends who consume [...]

When illicit drugs are created in a lab, unadulterated products are rarely processed. Most of the time, manufacturers will mix drugs with other substances to expand the batch and make a great profit for less cost.  One such substance that has been noted in these concoctions – and has even been abused on its own – is xylazine.  Never intended for use in humans, xylazine poses a significant threat to the health of those who seek its effects. Due to its relatively new status as an abusable drug, few regulations currently exist to keep it from falling into the wrong [...]

Addiction recovery is not a task easily achieved solo. Those recovering from addiction are frequently encouraged to rely on trusted friends and family, attend group sessions to meet with others in recovery and otherwise engage with the community around them to prevent any sense of isolation during the process. Additional support is also usually sought from addiction recovery sponsors. It is important that you feel safe with this man or woman, as their job is to be an additional person with whom you can confide. If you feel like this is jeopardized in any way for any reason, it [...]

When recovering from alcohol addiction, individuals will experience several withdrawal symptoms as a result of their body learning to adjust to the absence of the chemicals and toxins found in the substance. These symptoms can be dangerous and are undeniably unpleasant. Certain medications have been approved which mitigate withdrawal symptoms and help achieve sobriety.  Understanding alcohol withdrawal Once a body has learned to function with increasingly high levels of alcohol in its system, it seemingly “forgets” how to properly function without it. If you seek to stop consuming alcohol after long periods of frequent consumption, you are likely to [...]

After a night of drinking alcohol, you are likely not feeling your best. Most likely, you feel dehydrated, your stomach is irritated and your overall body feels puffy and bloated. Such an unpleasant feeling can lead us to wonder what we drank that promoted such illness – but the truth is, a combination of factors contribute to bloat after drinking.  Feeling bloated after drinking alcohol? The feeling of being bloated after drinking alcohol is experienced for a number of reasons, primarily because alcohol is an excellent dehydrator. And when the body is dehydrated, the stomach pulls any possible water [...]

“Hydrocodone is one of the most common pain medications prescribed by clinicians and one of the most abused by patients. It is a relatively potent drug for moderate-to-severe pain control in postoperative patients, patients with trauma, or patients with cancer,” according to an article from the National Library of Medicine. Classified as a schedule II drug by the DEA, hydrocodone has a high potential for abuse even though there are accepted medical uses. What this means is those prescribed hydrocodone need to be aware of the risks and ensure they are adhering to the instructions of the prescription to [...]