Living with or near an alcoholic parent can be one of the most challenging experiences a person may face. It may be a teenager who is trying to make it through the day – knowing that a parent is waiting at home in a drunken stupor. Or it may be an adult who has to…
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The difference betweenstimulants and depressants is equivalent to the difference between night and day. Stimulants are known as “uppers” and depressants are known as “downers” due to their effects. When someone wants to know what are the potential consequences of mixing stimulants and depressants, the answer is serious permanent physical or brain damage up to…
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At-home drug tests are rising in popularity since they present a potentially easier solution to determine if drugs are in someone’s system rather than conducting full lab-based tests. Some employers may opt for this route since they’re quick and affordable, or someone concerned about a loved one struggling with or recovering from addiction may use…
DetailsThe terms opiate, opioid, and narcotics frequently are used in the same group of terminology when in fact they are vastly different. In recent years, prescription medication has increased in use and abuse, so it is important to know and understand the difference in terminology. What the drugs have in common is in their use,…
DetailsThe variety and complexity of drug addiction culture slang terminology can be difficult to catalog because it is constantly being expanded and changed by both the drug culture itself and the pop culture that informs it. Sometimes, these slang words for drugs can have seemingly no relation to the drugs themselves, defying a logical explanation…
DetailsSubstance use occurs on a continuum, more like addiction, and not everyone who uses a substance categorically abuses it, just like substance abuse does not automatically correlate with psychological dependence. What are the differences between substance use, abuse, and dependence? The lines aren’t always clearly defined, but what is clear is that abuse and dependence…
DetailsMost people seeking drug and alcohol treatment are familiar with the short-term effects of alcohol on the brain, from the so-called “positive” effects, such as relaxed inhibitions and a feeling of well being, to the more obviously negative ones, such as slurred speech, impaired movements, and a highly emotional state. Alcohol is such an ingrained…
DetailsOvercoming cravings can be the most challenging aspect of overcoming addiction to opiates, but it is possible to do so, and many resources can help the cravings subside. Opiates chemically block the brain from perceiving pain, which reduces the amount of endorphins it needs to release to combat pain naturally. Over time, the brain can…
DetailsThe effects of doing drugs and drinking alcohol during pregnancy have long been known to have significant effects on a developing fetus. The results of substance abuse during pregnancy range from low birth weight to fetal death, and the realm of repercussions in between is vast. One outcome that occurs due to drug use during…
DetailsHeroin is an opiate that creates a sense of euphoria and relaxation in users by blocking the brain’s pain receptors. As drug users move through different substances, the chase for euphoria can get higher. Heroin is often one of those drugs that users resort to when other opiates fail to induce the same amount of…
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