Substance abuse during pregnancy is a devastating problem for many people today. The National Institutes on Drug Abuse believe about 5 percent of pregnant women use some type of addictive substance during their pregnancy. Many of these mothers simply cannot stop their addiction due to the chemical dependency the ... 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
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
Closing the Gap: Income and Addiction Survival Rates
Most people would say that there's no inequality when it comes to fighting addiction, and that everyone has equal access to treatment programs. Recent studies look at how treatment for any disease isn’t always the same for the poor or people without health insurance. That translates into higher stakes for those who ... Read More
What to Do if Your Pet Ate Drugs
Owning a pet can be a wonderful addition to your life, providing a companion and a friend that offers support in a way human relationships often can't match. Pets have a lot to offer, with clinically proven benefits like increased fitness, lower stress levels and brighter moods. Despite the bond you have with your ... Read More