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Alcohol and ecstasy. It is a pretty popular drug combination among young people ages 18 to 34, partygoers and clubgoers alike. The idea behind mixing the two drugs is ecstasy will be able to cancel out the sedative effect of alcohol while intensifying the buzz and high from the ecstasy. Many partygoers believe alcohol can enhance their experience with ecstasy and prolong the effects of high energy, euphoria and connectedness. This might be a temporary effect, but in the long run, the combination of alcohol and ecstasy can cause dangerous side effects.

Alcohol use disorder is a mental health medical condition in which a person has an impaired ability to stop or control their drinking behaviors despite resulting in negative consequences. Once you have developed a dependence and addiction, quitting alcohol can be very difficult and very dangerous. Some people opt to quit drinking cold turkey. Going cold turkey is a popular phrase that describes abruptly quitting all use of substances such as alcohol, rather than stopping gradually. However, depending on the severity of the alcohol use disorder, quitting alcohol cold turkey can put you at even higher risk for dangerous and life-threatening side effects.

Methadone is a synthetic long-acting full opioid agonist. The Schedule II Controlled Substance is a common prescription opioid medication used to help treat opioid use disorder. It is taken daily in minimal controlled doses and can be administered in a pill/tablet, a liquid concentrate, a powder that dissolves in water, or in a wafer form. One dose can last anywhere between 4-8 hours. Methadone works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. It helps to ease opioid withdrawal and control opioid cravings. Methadone has the potential to become addictive and should only be taken as prescribed by a licensed clinical professional.

Opioid use disorder has been an ongoing public health epidemic in the United States over the past decades. In fact, the majority of drug overdoses now involve some sort of opioid. There are many factors that can put people at risk for opioid overdose including, low drug tolerance, intravenous route of administration, recreational substance use, depression and the development of other mental health conditions. Naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan, and naltrexone, known by the brand name Vivitrol, are two common medication treatments used against opioid use disorder. They are opioid blockers that can help reverse the effects of opioids.

Substance addiction is one of the most common behavioral health conditions that impact millions of Americans each year. It is a mental health condition that can physically and psychologically change the brain. The most impactful way to treat this disease is through addiction counseling and substance use disorder treatment. It is scientifically proven, heavily researched and specifically developed to help those with substance use disorder issues. It can help improve both physical and mental health damage from substance addiction.

Trazodone is a medication most often prescribed under the brand name Oleptro to treat sleep disorders, anxiety disorder and unipolar depression disorder. Trazodone increases natural neurotransmitters in the central nervous system that help to restore the imbalance of chemicals in the brain. It is not a commonly abused substance. However, there is potential for the drug to be abused and cause an addiction when being used other than per the recommendation of licensed clinicians.

Trauma and addiction are often connected. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), traumatic events including childhood trauma, can become triggers for drug misuse, alcohol misuse and other types of substance abuse. Experiencing trauma increases the co-occurrence of mental health conditions and substance use. This is due to the endured feelings of continued anxiety, hypervigilance, and alertness. During prolonged exposure to these types of symptoms, people can develop a dysregulated stress system in which individuals then turn to substances to help block such negative feelings.

The Biden administration is proposing a move to reclassify marijuana and ease up on federal restrictions on the substance. The proposal would change the classification from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III controlled substance, labeling it a less dangerous drug. This reclassification will be a first for the substance since the Controlled Substances Act was enacted more than 50 years ago. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is expected to approve of the reclassification by the current administration and recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services. The move won’t legalize marijuana at the federal level; it will just reconsider the classification of the drug.

Adderall is one of the most commonly prescribed and commonly abused drugs in the United States. The central nervous system stimulant is often prescribed to help treat those diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For those with ADHD, Adderall works by bringing down the brain from a state of overstimulation to a state of baseline stimulation. It helps to slow down their minds by adjusting specific chemical levels in the brain that can produce clarity and focus. Adderall also increases a person’s ability to pay attention and control impulse behaviors. It can be very effective and helpful for those who suffer from ADHD. Because of its psychological impact on the brain, some have found that taking Adderall can have effects on personality.

Thanks to the opioid overdose epidemic, prescription opioids have been a hot topic in public health over the past decades. Opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl have been at the forefront of the war against drug overdose. However, other types of prescription opioids can also cause misuse and addiction. Tramadol is a prescription opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain usually after surgery. It can also be prescribed for issues of chronic pain from cancer or neuropathy. The fully synthetic opioid is comprised of synthetic opioid medications with monoamine reuptake inhibitors (MRIs). Tramadol is much less potent than morphine and other well-known opioids.