Opiates are legal or illegal drugs made from opium, a highly addictive, natural narcotic extracted from the papaver somniferum (poppy) plant. Opium is the primary ingredient in heroin, codeine, morphine, fentanyl, and other powerful pain relievers. Taking multiple opiates simultaneously to get high is one of the ... Read More
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The Dangers of Combining Opiates
What Explains Addiction? Theories of Addiction and Drug Abuse
Addiction is a multifaceted issue that about one in 10 U.S. adults experience. It can stem from a range of factors, from environment and personality to genetics and neurological causes. Addressing the root causes of an individual's substance use is an essential part of addiction treatment. By understanding the ... Read More
What Are Designer Drugs?
What is a designer drug? You may have heard the phrase but aren't sure what it means. The term describes synthetic versions of controlled substances that imitate the pharmacological effects of the original drug. Designer drugs may be created for several reasons, including: As a cheaper alternative For more ... Read More
What Is Precipitated Withdrawal? Tips for Taking Suboxone®
Opioid withdrawal isn't an easy process — in fact, it can be so severe that merely hearing rehab veterans talk about it can make some users avoid treatment altogether. This is why drugs like Suboxone® — the brand-name medication that combines the active ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone — are so popular. These ... Read More
The Dangers of Combining Caffeine and MDMA
MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also known as ecstasy or molly, is a synthetic psychoactive substance that increases levels of certain hormones in the brain, altering the individual's mood and energy. Caffeine, a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea and energy drinks, stimulates the central nervous system ... Read More
The Dangers of Combining Antipsychotics and Alcohol
Due to the prevalence of alcohol in American society—86 percent of American adults drink alcohol to some extent—many people feel safe mixing alcohol with just about any substance under the sun. This can mean allergy medication, OTC anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, and, yes, antipsychotics. ... Read More
The Psychoactive Effects of Mephedrone on the Brain
Mephedrone is capturing headlines around the world, due to raids and drug busts by various international narcotics control agencies. A case in point is the arrest in Mumbai, India, of the son of a Bollywood star and others attending a party aboard the Cordelia-Empress luxury cruise liner. Law enforcement officials ... Read More
Drug Profile: What Are Antipsychotics?
Antipsychotics are a large class of drugs used to treat mental health conditions. They're most often used for treating schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, but they have many off-label uses in the United States. Psychosis disorders affect roughly 0.4% of adults worldwide, yet nearly 1.7% of American adults ... Read More
