Trending Articles

As Gen Zers reach the legal drinking age, a growing number are opting for a sober lifestyle. As many as 41% of Americans are trying to drink less alcohol. There are a multitude of reasons as to why Gen Z is choosing to adopt a sober lifestyle. Some of the main reasons being listed as to why Gen Zers are going sober include:

Is it possible to move from one addiction to another? Is it possible to substitute one addiction for another addiction? Yes. This phenomenon is called cross addiction. Also known as addiction interaction disorder, substitute addiction, addiction hopping or addiction transfer, a cross addiction occurs when a person substitutes one form of addictive behavior for another type of addictive behavior. According to a report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 20 million people have an addiction problem in the U.S. It is assumed that an estimated 80% of those people carry the risk of developing a cross addiction.

You’re out with friends and have had a few drinks or two. Somewhere along the way, those few drinks turn into too many drinks. How long will it take for the alcohol to leave your body? How do you flush alcohol out of your system? Scientifically speaking, if you are excessively drinking, but want to flush alcohol out of your body as quickly as possible, all you can do is wait. The human body is very efficient in processing alcohol. However, the processing system depends on many different factors including, how much you have drank, the type of alcohol you consumed, biological factors, environmental factors, as well as individual metabolism.

Snorting any type of substance can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. This is because when snorting, the substance enters the bloodstream much quicker, and has a faster onset of effects. In some cases, it can cause overdose and death. Some of the more commonly snorted substances include meth, cocaine/coke and fentanyl. Those who abuse substances are also known to snort prescription medication pills. Medication pills such as tramadol.

Opioids are central nervous system depressants. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids both illicit and prescription, were responsible for over 80,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2021. The k18 pill, also known as “killer pill” or “killer k18” is a small, white, round tablet containing 5mg of oxycodone hydrochloride. This opioid medication is typically prescribed for the short-term management of severe pain. However, like its illicit counterpart, the k18 pill has been linked to opioid overdose deaths contributing to the public health opioid epidemic.

For some people, sober living can be a defining factor in helping someone to remain sober during and after substance use disorder treatment. A 2021 study found that sober living residents were more likely to remain in outpatient treatment for longer compared to those who were not in sober living homes. Sober living is a transitional space allowing clients to move from a structured residential treatment environment into mainstream society.

Withdrawal is a response, a physical and psychological reaction from your body when you stop using a substance that you have been using for a long time. It is your body attempting to rebalance itself to be able to function “normally” without the presence of the addictive drug. The dangers of withdrawal come from the body’s reaction to extreme changes in the chemical process in which it readjusts to return to a normal state of being before drug use.

Paradoxical effects and reactions are generally quite rare. They are described as experiencing the opposite of what a medication or drug is intended to do. It is an unusual medical response where the drug causes an effect that is opposite of what it would normally produce. For example, when a person uses Benadryl to treat allergies, it promotes sleep and sedation. During a paradoxical effect, a reaction to the drug causes hyperactivity, irritability and insomnia. The exact opposite of what the medication is supposed to do. The exact reasoning and science behind this phenomenon is still very unclear.

Concerta or methylphenidate hydrochloride, is a stimulant prescription medication used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a similar type of ADHD medication to Ritalin and according to the DEA, it is even more closely comparable to the illicit substance cocaine. Compared to other medications such as Adderall, Concerta only comes in an extended-release formulation that works by blocking the reuptake of chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine and producing sensations of energy and euphoria. This allows for more availability of neurotransmitters to be used up by the brain and body. Similar to other powerful and addictive prescription stimulants, Concerta users can develop a dependence on the drug leading to misuse and Concerta withdrawal.

Have you quit drugs? Have you quit drinking? Are you going California Sober? There is no official definition of California Sober. Some people refer to it as only using substances or “soft drugs” such as marijuana while cutting out all “hard drugs” such as cocaine, heroin and alcohol. One definition of the term refers to the occasional use of alcohol or even other hard drugs in a controlled setting because of the belief that it can offer mental health benefits. Other definitions of the term refer to only using marijuana and alcohol in moderation and avoiding other drugs. Advocates for this semi-sobriety approach claim that marijuana offers therapeutic benefits when trying to overcome an addiction.