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Thanks to the opioid overdose epidemic, prescription opioids have been a hot topic in public health over the past decades. Opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl have been at the forefront of the war against drug overdose. However, other types of prescription opioids can also cause misuse and addiction. Tramadol is a prescription opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain usually after surgery. It can also be prescribed for issues of chronic pain from cancer or neuropathy. The fully synthetic opioid is comprised of synthetic opioid medications with monoamine reuptake inhibitors (MRIs). Tramadol is much less potent than morphine and other well-known opioids.

Precipitated withdrawal is the sudden occurrence of withdrawal symptoms that have been brought on by the use of medications such as buprenorphine or naltrexone. It is the rapid onset of withdrawal symptoms that develop when a person takes medications before opioids are fully removed from their system. In comparison to substance withdrawal, precipitated withdrawal is caused by the use of medications and not the deprivation or abstinence of an addictive substance. Withdrawal symptoms such as fever, cramping and sweating can be triggered when medications to reverse opioid effects are actively used in combination with active opioid use. The immediate reaction is usually mild and brief but can also be sudden and even severe.

In the early days of addiction recovery when you have cleared your mind and body from mind-altering substances, many people feel a sense of elation and joy to finally be free from the hold of addiction. This feeling is often referred to as the pink cloud syndrome. Pink cloud syndrome describes a state of mind in which a person experiences feelings of euphoria and that nothing can go wrong now that they are sober. They feel like they have been changed, have a more positive outlook on life and have been “cured” of their addiction.

Bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder often occur together and can significantly influence each other’s severity and projection of the disease. In fact, both mental illnesses occur at higher than expected rates and also happen much more often than reported. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that is characterized by the inability to control drinking behaviors that cause significant impairment to the brain and body.

Clonidine hydrochloride is a medication classified as an antihypertensive and centrally acting alpha agonist. It was FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure, ADHD in children, Tourette syndrome-related tics, cancer-related pain, and stress-related pain. It can also be used to help treat restless leg syndrome. In 2016, clonidine was the 79th most prescribed medication in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 0.2% of the population was misusing prescription sedatives such as clonidine. In 2020, US doctors wrote about 9 million prescriptions for clonidine.

Alcohol is one of the most dangerous and one of the most commonly abused drugs worldwide. The fact that it can be used for cultural, spiritual and religious purposes along with its legal status, makes alcohol abuse more likely compared to other mind-altering substances. It is a powerful drug and users are at high risk for developing an addiction to alcohol. Not only does alcohol addiction affect a person physically and mentally, but it can also cause financial burdens.

Is binge drinking a precursor for alcohol abuse? Is binge drinking a form of alcohol abuse? Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of excessive drinking described as short, but heavy bursts of alcohol use. When consuming such large amounts of alcohol within a short period of time, it can raise the blood alcohol content (BAC) level to the legal limit of intoxication or higher. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is a destructive pattern of drinking alcoholic beverages that brings the BAC to 0.08% or higher.

Cannabis, marijuana or weed is one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances. The three names are often used interchangeably to describe the psychoactive chemical compound that affects the mind and body when consumed. It refers to all products that are derived from the cannabis sativa plant, which contains an estimated 540 different types of cannabinoids or chemical compound structures.

Stimulant drugs such as cocaine are powerful substances that can negatively affect users when abused. If a mother decides to use drugs while she is pregnant, she is putting her child at risk for many health problems including having neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Almost every drug or medication taken by the mother can be passed from the mother’s bloodstream through the placenta to the unborn baby. Cocaine use during pregnancy can cause NAS and cocaine withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies.

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that prompts the brain to artificially elevate dopamine levels in the body. The Schedule II controlled substance is derived from the coca plant native to South America and holds a high risk for abuse and addiction. Cocaine produces brief but intense initial feelings of euphoria, pleasure and increased energy. Once these effects begin to wear off, the body reacts to the sharp decline in dopamine, which can result in the development of uncomfortable negative symptoms. This is often referred to as a cocaine comedown.