The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Founded by Congress in 1992, SAMHSA’s mission is to make research, services and information more accessible to healthcare providers, as well as the general public, in the areas of substance use and abuse and […]
Just like alcohol, heroin and cocaine, nicotine is a drug that leads to addiction. In the brain, it increases levels of the dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward that often develop into cravings. Research has shown that 95 percent of adult cigarette smokers began smoking during adolescence or their teenage years. […]
Being unable to sleep after a long and exhausting day periodically happens to everyone. Even though our body craves rest, we’re unable to turn off the circus in our head and a good night’s snooze becomes impossible. Experts have long known that depression, anxiety and stress cause sleep troubles, but what many people don’t realize […]
Of all the ongoing medicinal and recreational marijuana debates in the country, whether or not pot is addictive ranks near the top of the list. Proponents of marijuana use continue to claim that it’s safe despite higher potency products and more efficient delivery systems, which create more intense highs. Shatter, a smooth, glassy marijuana concentrate […]
Known on the street as “Sally,” the MDA drug is closely related to “Molly” or “Ecstasy,” the street names for MDMA. In December 2015, the body of Scott Weiland, former lead singer of The Stone Temple Pilots, among the most successful rock bands of the 1990s, was found dead on a tour bus in Bloomington, […]
For many people struggling with substance abuse and addiction issues, one of the hardest things to do is ask for help. Feelings of guilt and shame associated with alcohol and drug dependency are difficult to overcome, but the good news is that most people see a dramatic improvement when they get treatment. Often the next […]
Since the beginning of the modern era, teenagers have been exposed to things that didn’t exist when their parents were younger. Whether it be certain types of music, technology or any number of pop culture trends, teens are more likely to experiment than their elders. That’s the natural course of life. Unfortunately, experimenting can sometimes […]
The good news is that teenage drug and alcohol use, overall, is down. This is according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) 2015 Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF), which released the report in December. The troublesome aspect of the survey, however, is the revelation that for the first time ever, more high school […]
