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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.

Precipitated withdrawal is the sudden occurrence of withdrawal symptoms that have been brought on by the use of medications such as buprenorphine or naltrexone. It is the rapid onset of withdrawal symptoms that develop when a person takes medications before opioids are fully removed from their system. In comparison to substance withdrawal, precipitated withdrawal is caused by the use of medications and not the deprivation or abstinence of an addictive substance. Withdrawal symptoms such as fever, cramping and sweating can be triggered when medications to reverse opioid effects are actively used in combination with active opioid use. The immediate reaction is usually mild and brief but can also be sudden and even severe.

In the early days of addiction recovery when you have cleared your mind and body from mind-altering substances, many people feel a sense of elation and joy to finally be free from the hold of addiction. This feeling is often referred to as the pink cloud syndrome. Pink cloud syndrome describes a state of mind in which a person experiences feelings of euphoria and that nothing can go wrong now that they are sober. They feel like they have been changed, have a more positive outlook on life and have been “cured” of their addiction.

Bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder often occur together and can significantly influence each other’s severity and projection of the disease. In fact, both mental illnesses occur at higher than expected rates and also happen much more often than reported. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that is characterized by the inability to control drinking behaviors that cause significant impairment to the brain and body.

Clonidine hydrochloride is a medication classified as an antihypertensive and centrally acting alpha agonist. It was FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure, ADHD in children, Tourette syndrome-related tics, cancer-related pain, and stress-related pain. It can also be used to help treat restless leg syndrome. In 2016, clonidine was the 79th most prescribed medication in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 0.2% of the population was misusing prescription sedatives such as clonidine. In 2020, US doctors wrote about 9 million prescriptions for clonidine.

Alcohol is one of the most dangerous and one of the most commonly abused drugs worldwide. The fact that it can be used for cultural, spiritual and religious purposes along with its legal status, makes alcohol abuse more likely compared to other mind-altering substances. It is a powerful drug and users are at high risk for developing an addiction to alcohol. Not only does alcohol addiction affect a person physically and mentally, but it can also cause financial burdens.

Is binge drinking a precursor for alcohol abuse? Is binge drinking a form of alcohol abuse? Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of excessive drinking described as short, but heavy bursts of alcohol use. When consuming such large amounts of alcohol within a short period of time, it can raise the blood alcohol content (BAC) level to the legal limit of intoxication or higher. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is a destructive pattern of drinking alcoholic beverages that brings the BAC to 0.08% or higher.