The Connection Between Hepatitis, HIV, and IV Drug Use

The Connection Between Hepatitis, HIV, and IV Drug Use

IV (intravenous) drug use can lead to more than just addiction. It’s also linked to HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases that are often caused by unsafe injection practices. What are the common IV drug use health risks? We’ll provide a complete review here, with a focus on hepatitis and HIV, which are two of…

Tough Love vs. True Love: What Works in Supporting Sobriety

Tough Love vs. True Love: What Works in Supporting Sobriety

Having a loved one struggle with addiction is hard on the whole family. You have to make a lot of important decisions, the rehab process can be stressful, and sometimes you must make your boundaries clear to ensure your loved one gets the help they need. During the process, it’s common to wonder whether you…

Xanax Eyes: How Benzos Affect Focus and Appearance

Xanax Eyes: How Benzos Affect Focus and Appearance

Ongoing drug abuse can affect the body in many ways, including the eyes. When you’re trying to identify if someone you care about is abusing Xanax (alprazolam) or wondering how continued Xanax use has affected your well-being, the appearance and function of the eyes is a common place to start. The term “Xanax eyes” typically…

How to Stop the Come-Down After MDMA

How to Stop the Come-Down After MDMA

The MDMA (or ecstasy) come-down is a common effect that happens as the drug wears off. Coming down off MDMA can make you feel tired, have brain fog, experience mood swings, and several other negative effects. Given that the effects of the drug wearing off can be very uncomfortable, it’s common to wonder about how…

Is it Alcohol Allergy or Just a Reaction?

Is it Alcohol Allergy or Just a Reaction?

When you or someone you know has an odd or bad reaction after drinking alcohol, it can bring up a lot of concerns. Sudden side effects like flushed skin, redness of the face, nausea, or vomiting can all happen after drinking alcohol for a variety of reasons. The two things that may come to mind…

How to Rebuild Trust with Family After Getting Sober

How to Rebuild Trust with Family After Getting Sober

Addiction can impact many areas of a person’s life, including relationships with family. When things have happened in the past, such as lying about drug use, neglecting important responsibilities, or making decisions that had a negative impact on others, trying to regain trust after addiction can feel like a long and challenging process. Fortunately, rebuilding…

Drunk Eyes vs Normal Eyes: How Alcohol Changes Your Appearance

Drunk Eyes vs Normal Eyes: How Alcohol Changes Your Appearance

“Drunk eyes” is used to describe the physical changes in the eyes that occur after alcohol consumption. These changes, such as redness, glassiness, drooping eyelids, or difficulty focusing, are common and affect individuals regardless of their tolerance level. Unlike other signs of intoxication, eye changes are harder to conceal. They can linger even after your…

The 4 Stages of Alcoholism: How Addiction Progresses

The 4 Stages of Alcoholism: How Addiction Progresses

Alcoholism doesn’t happen overnight. Nor does it usually announce itself dramatically. Instead, it often slowly creeps up on an individual, gradually interfering with one’s daily life and responsibilities. If the addiction continues, major health issues can also arise. This indicates the importance of getting help early on. But how can you recognize when it’s become…

Alcohol and Pancreatitis: How Drinking Can Turn Deadly

Alcohol and Pancreatitis: How Drinking Can Turn Deadly

Ongoing alcohol abuse can have many negative consequences on someone’s health and well-being. Complications from alcohol can include cardiovascular problems, an increased risk of fractures, a reduced immune system, and damage to crucial organs like the pancreas. Does drinking cause pancreatitis? Yes, pancreatitis from alcohol can happen. It’s estimated that about 17-25% of pancreatitis cases…

Alcohol and Sleep: How Booze Wrecks Your REM

Alcohol and Sleep: How Booze Wrecks Your REM

After a night of drinking, it’s common to wake up feeling fatigued and not at your best. Alcohol has many effects on the mind and body, including disrupting your natural sleep cycle. Specifically, it can prevent you from reaching the important rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage. What’s the connection between alcohol and REM sleep?…