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The ability to identify the signs of drug use can help determine whether a loved one may be using drugs or abusing alcohol and as a result, risking adverse consequences to their health, career, school, and family life. General Signs of Drug Use If an individual is abusing any substance, here are some indicators to [...]

Crystal Meth Effects - Crystal meth (methamphetamine hydrochloride) is an extremely addictive psychostimulant that affects the spinal cord, brain, and central nervous system (CNS). Depending on what form it is in, meth can either be smoked using a pipe (crystal form), snorted as a powder, dissolved in water and injected, or swallowed in tablet form. [...]

Depressant drugs are substances that suppress the central nervous system (CNS) and work by impacting neurons in the CNS, which can result in effects such as relaxation, drowsiness, reduced inhibition, sleep, anesthesia, coma, and potentially, death. Most depressants also have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Although depressants are all similar in their ability [...]

What is a Controlled Substance? - A controlled substance is any substance legally regulated in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The CSA is a statute legislated during the Nixon presidency as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The CSA established a federal drug policy to [...]

Side Effects of Alcoholism: Mental, Physical, and Social - Consuming too much alcohol, whether on isolated occasions or consisted over time can take a serious toll on your mental and physical well-being - not to mention your social life, including interpersonal relationships, finances, and criminal record. The following is a comprehensive, but not an all-inclusive [...]

Ambien Addiction and Women - Ambien (zolpidem tartrate) is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, meaning that it activates neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for producing GABA, a chemical that effectively slows down the central nervous system and can result in relaxation and sleepiness. Ambien is frequently prescribed for insomnia or sleeping difficulties and is found [...]

What Is Peyote? - Peyote is a spineless cactus indigenous to parts of Peru, Mexico, and the southwest United States. Peyote is commonly associated with mescaline, which is a psychoactive hallucinogen found in and on a peyote cactus. In general, peyote is rare, and for this reason, drug dealers tend to deceptively label LSD or [...]

Heroin Detox and Withdrawal Timeline - A medically-assisted heroin detox is a process that chronic heroin users undergo in a clinical setting under 24/7 medical supervision. During this process, patients are monitored and medication is administered to prevent complications and mitigate the adverse effects of cessation, also known as withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms occur because [...]

Group therapy employs evidence-based psychotherapeutic strategies in a collaborative setting to help patients understand the nature of their struggles and learn coping methods to help prevent future substance abuse. In structured rehab programs, group therapy sessions are comprised of many individuals, all battling addictions to a multitude of substances. Group therapy sessions facilitate an atmosphere [...]

Kratom Effects and Addiction - Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical, tree-like, coffee plant native to parts of Southeast Asia. In Thailand and other neighboring areas, kratom has been an herbal remedy for several centuries. Depending on the potency and dosage, kratom can produce both stimulant and opiate-like effects, thereby alleviating symptoms caused by a [...]