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Substance use disorder is a mental health condition that affects every aspect of a person’s life. It can begin to take a negative toll if and when it spirals into a more severe condition. Recovery from substance addiction can become a lifelong process. Taking the first step to recovery can be a difficult, empowering, yet overwhelming feeling. It requires the individual to be ready physically, psychologically and emotionally. Today, there are a variety of evidence-proven methods and treatments to help those who suffer from substance use disorder or alcohol addiction.

Ever since the introduction of Juul, a brand of e-cigarettes, vaping has blown up among teens, young adults and just about everyone else. Juul hit the market in 2015 and became a leader in the vaping industry. The brand accounted for an estimated 75% of all e-cigarette sales. According to a 2020 JAMA Network scientific paper, an estimated 5.56 million adults vape in the U.S. According to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey from the FDA and CDC, over 2.5 million high school and middle school students in the U.S. vape.

First synthesized in 1960, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) was created as an alternative to help induce sleep. In the late 1980s, it was being sold and marketed as an over-the-counter sedative and a growth hormone stimulator to help bodybuilders promote muscle mass and maintain weight. In 1991, the drug was banned by the FDA after several reported incidents of dangerous adverse reactions occurred. GHB is a central nervous system depressant that slows down the messages between the brain and the body. Because it is a depressant substance, there is potential for dependence and experiencing withdrawal from GHB.

Suboxone is a prescription medication often used in the treatment of opioid use disorder. The Schedule III Controlled Substance is a long-acting opioid that works to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. It is a powerful medication that can eliminate severe withdrawal symptoms as well as control and manage drug cravings. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Suboxone is one of the recommended treatments for managing opioid use disorder. The prescription drug was designed to be a safe alternative with a low risk of addiction and overdose.

Baclofen is a prescription medication used to treat muscle spasms. It falls under the category of muscle relaxant. Baclofen specifically is FDA-approved for managing muscle spasms and reversible spasticity. It helps to provide relief for conditions such as flexor spasms, pain from multiple sclerosis, and concomitant pain. Baclofen is a central nervous system depressant, which slows down the activity of the brain and body. When taken with other depressant substances such as alcohol, it can cause extreme sedation and lead to dangerous adverse effects.

Polysubstance abuse is quite common among people who already abuse alcohol. Oftentimes alcohol is used to enhance or blunt out the unwanted effects of the other substance being abused. One drug used alongside alcohol is Suboxone. Suboxone and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants. When taken together, it can result in distressing effects such as respiratory depression, sedation, slowed heart rate and a high risk of overdose and coma.

Alcohol use disorder, alcohol addiction or alcoholism can be a very difficult disease to overcome. Depending on the severity of the addiction, it can take months and even years for someone to recover. But once they have recovered, is it possible to drink in moderation again? Does moderation work? Can a person actually relearn how to drink responsibly after a long period of abstinence from alcohol? 

Meloxicam, also known by the brand name Mobic, is a prescription medication used to treat pain and inflammation caused by certain types of arthritis. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) helps reduce painful symptoms caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. An estimated 22.6 million prescriptions for meloxicam were issued by physicians in the U.S. Meloxicam is not a substance that is often abused. However, when it is taken in combination with alcohol, dependence can develop and cause dangerous and unpredictable side effects. 

Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health conditions often treated by medication. It occurs when a person experiences excessive anxiety or stress for at least 6 months or more. The most common and effective way to treat anxiety disorder is with anti-anxiety medications that affect the unbalanced chemicals in the brain. Buspirone is an anxiolytic drug primarily used to treat symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. It is a non-anti-psychotic medication FDA-approved for managing anxiety disorders and providing short-term relief from anxiety.

Librium is a prescription medication often used as short-term relief for symptoms of anxiety as well as the general management of anxiety disorders and withdrawal symptoms of acute alcoholism. It contains anti-anxiety, sedative, appetite-stimulating and myorelaxant properties. Its primary use is to help treat withdrawal symptoms for alcohol use disorder.