In comparison to other drugs, like cocaine and heroin, kratom is relatively unknown in the United States and, accordingly, is not yet considered a controlled substance and has no official schedule determination. Statistics indicate that only around 1.7 million Americans partook in kratom in 2021 – just 0.5% of the U.S. ... Read More
Absinthe & Everclear: Dangers of Grain Alcohol
Absinthe and Everclear are high-proof alcohols. It’s important to understand what high-proof alcohol is, why it is potentially bad for you and what steps you should take if you’ve consumed it. There’s some evidence, according to Scientific American, that Vincent van Gogh had an addiction to absinthe. It’s believed ... Read More
Healthcare Costs, Narcan, and Memes
Updated September 26, 2019 "If a kid has a life-threatening allergic reaction, the parents have to pay a ridiculous price for an EpiPen. But a junkie who OD's for the 15th time gets Narcan for free? Seriously?" That's the popular gripe of a meme that has proliferated across the Internet, raising the need for a ... Read More
Drug Profile: Ephedrine
If the name "ephedrine" sounds familiar to you, it may be because you have some familiarity with pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Pseudoephedrine was a standard antihistamine used to treat sinus colds and allergy symptoms, before becoming heavily regulated due to its potential (as a precursor to methamphetamine) to be ... Read More
10 Ways a Therapist Can Support Your Personal Growth
Counseling is often an underrated resource for anyone, but especially for demographics like those at risk for substance abuse, addiction and mental health conditions. But when you're working through adversity, it can be hard to recognize the good a therapist can do for you and your health. The number of Americans ... Read More
One Scary Aspect of Withdrawal That You Need to Be Prepared For: The Emotional Dimensions of Detox
When you're in detox, you might expect some physical symptoms of withdrawal, but the emotional symptoms might catch you unaware. The psychological effects of withdrawal can make detox more difficult and can even make you avoid or procrastinate entering a treatment program. According to the National Institutes of ... Read More
How a Dangerous New Trend in Binge Drinking Could Be Impacting Your Child’s Health
Research from the University of Minnesota is challenging historical trends in binge drinking and bringing to light new concerns about the long-lasting impact binge drinking can have on young adults. The study seems to indicate that, like many other cultural and social activities, binge drinking participation is peaking ... Read More
The 5th Vital Sign: How Treating Pain Contributed to the Opioid Epidemic
In medicine, there are four key vital signs: temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure. However, in many ways, pain is often seen as a phantom fifth vital sign. After all, a doctor's oath quite literally states "First, do no harm," and what is more harmful than pain? As such, keeping patients pain-free and ... Read More
