If you haven’t heard of Kratom don’t feel like you’re out of the loop. In fact, you’re not that far behind the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency only issued an alert on the Kratom plant, known as Mitragyna speciosa, a member of the coffee family that’s native to parts of Southeast Asia, […]
Category: Drug Addiction
Why Do People Get Addicted To Drugs and Alcohol?
Addiction is a painful disease, and also a confusing one. Family and friends of an addict wonder why their loved one continues to abuse drugs and alcohol when it’s clear they’re destroying their life. “Why don’t they just stop?” is a question constantly asked. In many cases, the addict is asking themselves the very same […]
10 Countries That Ended Their War on Drugs
America’s war on drugs has reached a tipping point. Fifty-one percent of all federal prisoners between 2011 and 2013 were serving time for drug-related offenses. The “war” has officially been raging since the ’70s when President Nixon declared drugs public enemy number one. However, strict Puritanical policies regarding illicit substances began in the early 1900s. […]
The “Crystal” Menace: Methamphetamine and Addiction
Everyone of a certain age has heard about Methamphetamines. This incredibly addictive central nervous stimulant has even been the subject of the hit television show “Breaking Bad,” which aired for 6 seasons, from 2008 to 2013. Often going by names like “crystal meth,” “ice,” and “glass,” methamphetamines wreak havoc on the lives of users and […]
A Brief Guide to Drug Scheduling in the United States
From Dr. McMunn’s Elixir of Opium, sold in the 1830s, to the state of Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana, the U.S. has a long history of government drug regulation. Current federal law defines 5 separate categories or “schedules” for drugs. Substances are classified by their acceptable medical use and potential for dependency and abuse, though never […]
The Dangers of Abusing Ketamine – Falling Into the K-Hole
If your first thought is about a bowl of cereal after hearing the phrase “Special K,” you’re likely not a college or high school aged party animal. Slang for the drug Ketamine, “Special K” is classified as a fast-acting, but short-lasting, a dissociative anesthetic that produces an “out of body,” psychedelic type high comparable to […]
The Use and Abuse of Benzodiazepines, aka Benzos
The psychoactive class of drugs known as Benzodiazepines was discovered by a Polish-American chemist in 1955. As an anti-anxiety drug, Benzos, as they’re often referred to, have a wide range of medical applications. These highly addictive drugs are, in fact, so effective that by 1977 they became the most prescribed medications in the world. The […]
Suboxone vs Methadone For Opioid Addiction
Heroin is making a comeback. While that might sound like a wild exaggeration, the truth is that the highly addictive drug is more available and cheaper than ever before. Now, with more patients entering rehab for opioid dependency issues, physicians are debating which is the most effective treatment, Suboxone or Methadone? Both are effective, but […]
Is ADHD Medication Recreational or Functional?
The past two decades have been full of debate about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mostly centered on children. The arguments range from an over diagnosis of the condition to the proper approach for treatment. Recently, however, a new discussion is gaining momentum. Mounting evidence shows that more and more adults without the disorder are […]
Straight Up “Reality Parties” For Parents of Teenagers
In Southern California, as in other states across the country, there’s a teenage house party underway, complete with drinking games, empty bottles of booze and loud music. The big difference with this party, though, is that it’s simulated. “Reality Parties” are a new trend that gives parents a glimpse of what really happens when alcohol […]