If you have ever been involved in an accident and experienced severe chronic pain, your doctor may have prescribed opioids to alleviate the discomfort and advised you to avoid drinking alcohol while on the medication. Despite the warnings, some people combine opioids and alcohol, either because they do not realize the potential consequences or because […]
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be debilitating. The result of experiencing a traumatic event, this mental health condition can have a significant impact on your brain. If you, or a loved one, have experienced a traumatic event, learning about how PTSD affects the brain can be your first step toward recovery. Healing from trauma isn’t easy.
Although jokes about having to drink to deal with the stress of raising children is a common parenting trope, the more recent concept of “wine mom” raises concerns about crossing the line from harmless unwinding at the end of the day, to a more serious issue of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Understanding the signs of alcohol
Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug derived from morphine. There is no FDA-approved medical use for this potent drug, so any use of it is considered heroin abuse. As an illicit drug, heroin is obtained on the street and may be cut with other substances, like the even more powerful opioid, fentanyl. It is
Mental health issues like depression can have a significant impact on someone’s everyday life. While there are many potential causes of depression, including genetic predisposition, isolation is a considerable factor. Get to know how isolation can lead to depression and what you can do to address loneliness for the sake of your mental health. If you
Most prescription or illicit drugs fall into one of these four categories: depressants, stimulants, inhalants, or hallucinogens. Drugs are classified based on their effects on the mind and body. For example, depressants are named as such because they depress or slow down the functions of the central nervous system (CNS), while stimulants stimulate the system,
Some people’s addiction to opioids begins after receiving a prescription to treat chronic moderate to severe pain. Unfortunately, once someone is dependent on opioids, it is not so simple to stop using them. Opioid withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable enough to make abstinence feel impossible. The good news is there are ways to manage withdrawal
Treating and Managing Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms Read More »
Enjoying a drink or two on special occasions or having a glass of wine or beer with dinner can be relatively harmless for most people. But when alcohol consumption becomes heavier or more frequent, it can lead to dependence or reliance on the substance, which is generally an indication that a person needs to rethink
Polysubstance abuse, a term that describes using two or more substances simultaneously, can occur intentionally or unintentionally. Some people mix substances to achieve a more intense effect, such as using cocaine and alcohol at a party to elevate mood and lower inhibitions. On the opposite end, some people engage in polysubstance abuse without realizing it,
For many, the warm, sunny months are associated with fun, travel, and carefree living. But once the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, the mood starts to change. Although some people experience a minor case of the winter blues, others develop a diagnosable mental health disorder known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or