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Addiction is a disease of the brain. It can be triggered by genetics, environmental or social factors. Similar to other medical diseases, it is preventable, it is treatable, it changes in biology and if left untreated, it can last for a lifetime. According to the National Institute of Health, about 4% of US citizens suffer from a drug use disorder. This equates to over 23 million Americans experiencing some sort of problematic drug use. The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health states that repeated use of addictive substances, can cause changes in the brain circuits that govern pleasure, reward, learning, stress, decision making and self-control.

Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that can produce dissociative and hallucinogenic effects. When taken, it distorts the perception of sight, sound and touch. Ketamine can induce a state of sedation, intense relaxation and relief from pain. New research has found that ketamine treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other types of mood disorders has been proven effective in minimizing symptoms. Ketamine therapy can provide symptom relief from anxiety and treatment-resistant depression with minimal side effects.

In a recent 2021 study, an estimated 11.8 million young adults aged 18-25, reported using marijuana within the past year. And in 2022, about 30% of 12th graders reported using marijuana within the past year. The usage of marijuana among the younger generation has steadily increased since the 1990s. Today one of the most popular forms of cannabis use is vaping. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, around 30% of people who use cannabis, can develop a marijuana use disorder. The risk is even higher when users begin to use the substance during adolescence. Once an addiction has developed, the initial treatment process begins with marijuana detox.

Are you supporting your loved one with a substance use disorder? Or are you enabling them? What is the difference? Supporting an addict and enabling an addict are two very different forms of help. Addiction is a disease that not only affects the substance abuser, but their family, friends and loved ones. It is only natural to want to help them treat and recover from this disease.

Liver damage and liver disease is a common side effect of alcohol use disorder. With alcohol abuse being one of the most common mental illnesses globally, alcohol-related liver disease is also on the rise. The majority of those who abuse alcohol go on to develop fatty liver disease, which is a form of alcohol-related liver damage. The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. Unlike some other organs, the liver can heal and repair itself even after years of damage and exposure to toxins like alcohol.

People ask “how long does Oxycontin stay in your system?” for various reasons. These can include for medical uses, such as on a pain relief basis. If individuals aim to pass a drug test, they might ask about this. In both scenarios, there are a lot of factors that determine how long oxycontin stays in your system. 

Major depressive disorder is a common yet serious mental health condition in which prescription medications are often used to treat. Trazodone, a FDA-approved antidepressant is a medication with sedative properties used to treat symptoms of depression. Trazodone produces sensations of relaxation and drowsiness that can also be used off-label for treating anxiety and sleep conditions. Trazodone is generally considered part of a long-term medication treatment plan. Because of this, it can result in dependence, addiction and the risk of overdose. This is especially more likely when trazodone and alcohol are combined.

Death from drug overdose has continued to explode in the U.S. A new wave of overdose emergencies is seeing Fentanyl mixed with stimulant substances such as cocaine or heroin. It is the latest polydrug combination causing overdose, addiction and death. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the combination of opioids and stimulants is often referred to as “speedballing” and is a dangerous combination that causes an intense high. Studies found that an estimated 80% of overdose deaths in 2021 involved cocaine and an opioid. It has also been labeled as the 4th wave of the opioid crisis. But let’s take a look at cocaine’s impact on this new wave of the drug overdose crisis.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of prescription medications to aid in recovery. Commonly used medications, such as Suboxone and Sublocade, contain Buprenorphine. Buprenorphine binds to the same receptors in the brain that opiates do. However, buprenorphine does not give the euphoric feeling that illicit substances do. This reduces cravings by tricking the brain into thinking that there are opiates present. Suboxone can also be used in the acute withdrawal period to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. A medical taper with suboxone can make the transition from addiction to sobriety much smoother. 

Phentermine, also known as Adipex, is a prescription medication for the treatment of obesity and weight loss. Modern diet pills like phentermine were introduced as a replacement for amphetamines to help appetite suppression in people struggling with weight loss. Phentermine is a class of drugs called anorectics and is an amphetamine and stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It can increase energy and feelings of euphoria, making users susceptible to developing dependence and addiction.