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It’s a new year. That means it’s also time to set new goals. January is a popular month for many to set new health goals including weight loss, changing diets and improving on exercise and physical activity. What started as a public health initiative and motivational health challenge, has now become an increasingly growing phenomenon worldwide. Dry January. The dry January challenge was started by the non-profit organization Alcohol Change UK back in 2013. The dry January challenge consists of participants abstaining from alcohol for the entire month of January, typically 31 days. This includes all alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, cocktails and spirits. An estimated 8.8 million people worldwide participated in dry January in 2023.

Fentanyl and Dilaudid are both powerful pain-relieving opioid substances. Schedule II controlled substances are used to treat various types of acute and chronic pain. Both substances have also contributed to the 16 million people worldwide, who struggle with opioid use disorder. This includes more than 3 million Americans. In a 2022 report, over 1.5 million prescriptions for Dilaudid were issued to more than 500,000 Americans. It was one of the most frequently prescribed opioids in the US. On the other hand, fentanyl has become one of the most dangerous drugs in the US. Its high potency, low cost, and ease of manufacture make it one of the most commonly found illicit compounds causing the opioid overdose epidemic.

In 2021, an estimated 2.6% of American young adults reported using ecstasy. Ecstasy, MDMA or molly, is a popular party drug often consumed in clubs, dance parties and raves along with other legal and illicit substances such as cocaine, marijuana and alcohol. Why is it considered a party drug? It is commonly found in those types of environments because the music and dancing often intensify the desired effects of the drug. Unlike other mind-altering substances, ecstasy can actually produce dangerous and life-threatening reactions at any dose. In some cases, overdoses have occurred even after the smallest amount of the drug was taken.

Farmapram is the latest drug Americans are now turning to. Farmapram, also known as Mexican Xanax bars, is a benzodiazepine prescribed to patients for the treatment of anxiety disorder, panic disorder and depression. Available in Mexico, both Farmapram and Xanax contain the active ingredient alprazolam. Both medications contain the main active ingredient alprazolam and are used to treat the same conditions. However, Farmapram is not regulated or inspected so it is possible that the drug could contain other unknown and dangerous additives.

Can you get high off household items? Surprisingly yes. But it’s not quite what you think. There are many household items that produce a “high-like” sensation and are highly abused. The abuse of household items is most commonly found among teens and adolescents. The reasoning? The items or products can be easily obtained at the local grocery or convenience store, the items are cheap and affordable because they are common household items and it is easy to use and easy to conceal. Another determining factor in why it is so common among young people is because most of these items are legal and the outcome of product abuse results in quick and rapid onset of intoxicating effects.

Adderall has become more and more popularly prescribed and used over the past decades. So much so there was a recent medication shortage in the US. Some of the popularity of the drug has also led to an increase in drug abuse and even drug overdose. According to the National Institute of Health, overdose rates for psychostimulants such as Adderall are increasing dramatically. As recent as 2019, an estimated 23% of overdose cases involved some sort of stimulant drug use. And in 2020, a reported 5 million Americans misused prescription stimulants such as Adderall.

Alcohol and antidepressants do not mix. However, it is often the case that people who suffer from symptoms of mental health disorders and are prescribed antidepressant medications also consume alcohol. Alcohol is used in an attempt to suppress uncomfortable feelings of depression or anxiety. When these two substances are combined, it can result in dangerous adverse effects.

Is rubbing alcohol a type of drinking alcohol? Rubbing alcohol is made up of 70-99% isopropyl alcohol. It is colorless, highly flammable and has a very strong odor similar to gasoline. Despite containing the name alcohol, rubbing alcohol is a completely different substance from ethyl alcohol, which is the substance often found in drinks such as beer, wine and spirits. If ingested, rubbing alcohol can be twice as toxic as ethanol drinking alcohol.

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Drug Enforcement Administration have issued warnings identifying that fentanyl and xylazine drug combinations have become a significant public health threat. The combination of fentanyl and xylazine is also known as “tranq dope.” It has been the cause of a number of reported drug overdose deaths. Fentanyl is a powerful central nervous system depressant opioid. Xylazine is also a powerful sedative substance approved for veterinary use only. The combination of the two substances can create a highly addictive and toxic outcome for the user.

An epidural is a common medical procedure that provides pain relief or lack of feeling during labor and childbirth.  The epidural medication is usually distributed through an IV injected at the back of the spine. Epidurals can also be used for certain types of surgeries as well as treatment for specific causes of chronic pain. For labor and childbirth, the most commonly used epidural is a combination of an anesthesia medication and a narcotic medication. The most common narcotic used in epidurals is fentanyl.