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Opioid use disorder has become a growing epidemic in the US for decades. Two common forms of medication treatment include Sublocade and Vivitrol. According to the American Society of Addiction Medication and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, both drugs are effective for long-term medication management of opioid use disorder. Both drugs are administered as injections after detox and withdrawal during the maintenance phase of treatment to help lessen opioid cravings. What is Sublocade and Vivitrol? What is the difference between Sublocade vs Vivitrol?

Anxiety disorders are among the most common types of mental health illness that affect more than 40 million Americans. Because of that, antianxiety and antidepressant medications such as Xanax have become popular prescription medications. Xanax, also known by its generic name alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine and central nervous system depressant. Xanax works by reducing activity in the central nervous system, which can in turn interfere with normal brain functions such as sleep, appetite and weight gain and loss.

In October of 2022, the FDA confirmed a nationwide shortage of the popular prescription medication Adderall. A surge in demand for ADHD medication during the pandemic lockdown sparked a domino effect on supply problems. Adderall is also a controlled substance, which means there are legal limits on how much of the drug can be produced at any given time frame. Because of the supply shortage, many who depend on the medication were forced to turn to illegal means of obtaining the controlled substances. This caused the already popular drug to shoot up in street value on the black market.

Kratom and alcohol are federally legal substances in the United States. However, just because they are legal doesn’t mean they are safe to use especially together. Studies have shown many people who go to the hospital with Kratom-related problems, often also have issues with other substances such as alcohol. The combination of Kratom and alcohol can produce serious adverse effects including an increased risk for respiratory depression, decline in cognitive functions and a higher risk of overdose. The National Institutes of Health strongly advises against co-using both drugs because of their combined risky sedative effects on the central nervous system.

Percocet is an opioid medication and is considered one of the most addictive prescription drugs available. Percocet contains a combination of acetaminophen, an analgesic; and an immediate-release oxycodone, an opioid. According to the United States Department of Justice, more than an estimated 13 million Americans abuse oxycodone medications such as Percocet. It is commonly used as a short-term treatment for moderate to severe pain including intestinal pressure pain, severe back pain and gallstone pain. It can also be used for chronic pain.

According to the DSM-5, borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized as a “pervasive, unstable pattern of interpersonal relationships and self-image, resulting in impulsivity.” This mental health disorder is present in about 1-1.6% of the general American population where people can experience intense mood swings, sudden changes in behaviors and changes in confidence. According to a 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 28 million Americans had alcohol use disorder (AUD). Together, BPD and alcohol abuse results in similar symptoms and are often present in a dual diagnosis.

Polysubstance use is not uncommon among those who abuse mind-altering drugs. Xanax and cocaine have become a fairly common drug combination. This can be caused by a number of reasons including lack of education regarding the dangers of drug mixing or the dangers of developing an addiction. Xanax is one of the most popular prescription benzodiazepines used to treat symptoms of anxiety disorder and sleep disorders. In 2013, research found that over 13 million Americans have been prescribed the drug. Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug. Data collected showed in 2021, over 4.8 million Americans reported using cocaine. Taking both substances can mask the effects of one another and lead to dangerous consequences.

Kratom is a growing trend in substance use. A study from the consumer advocacy group American Kratom Association found that an estimated 10-16 million Americans regularly use kratom. Also known as mitragyna speciosa, the substance has origins in Southeast Asia. It has been traditionally used as a painkiller to treat chronic pain and fever. It has also been used as an energy stimulator. Today, it is considered a non-traditional alternative to medication and is usually ingested in pill form or as an herbal tea.

Fentanyl. The synthetic opioid drug was at the center and a major driver of the 3rd wave of opioid overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl prescription medication is used to treat chronic and moderate to severe pain and belongs in the same family of opioids such as morphine and oxycodone. It offers highly effective pain relief making the drug potency a high risk for tolerance, dependence and addiction. It is almost 100 times more powerful than morphine and works by binding to the opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which control functions of pleasure and pain.

Methadone, a man-made opioid prescription medication, is often used in the treatment of opioid use disorder. It can be used to treat chronic pain management, detox from opioids, part of medication-assisted treatments (MAT) and maintenance therapy for drug addiction. Using an opioid to treat an opioid addiction may seem contradictory. However, methadone maintenance programs have been scientifically proven to be among the most effective methods for treating addiction to heroin and other opioids.