First developed in the late 19th century by Germany’s Bayer Labs, barbiturates were historically prescribed by doctors to help patients relax and fall asleep. In fact, from 1920 until about 1950, these drugs were essentially the only sedatives available. During the 1960s and 70s, barbiturates were widely used in ... Read More
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How Drugs and Alcohol Can Increase Your Risks of Cancer
Can drinking alcohol cause cancer? Does smoking marijuana increase your risk of developing cancer? There’s a well-established link between cancer and drug addiction. Though most people recognize the psychological and physical damage these substances can create, many don't think of the risk of cancer as a result of ... Read More
Overcoming Denial: When an Addicted Loved One Doesn’t Want Help
When your loved one is among the 23.5 million Americans addicted to drugs or alcohol, it's only natural to want to help them. However, promoting treatment is rarely as easy as telling someone they need help. In the depths of addiction, denial is very strong, and it's not uncommon for those in the midst to become ... Read More
At Sixes and Sevens: The Overlap of Alcoholism & Gambling
One of the issues that makes addiction more complex than some other chronic diseases is the potential for addiction to more than one substance or behavior at one time or for two addictions to play off of each other in dangerous ways. Such connections are common with addictions to gambling and alcohol. These ... Read More
Ativan: A Drug Profile
Ativan and other drugs like it can provide enormous relief to people suffering from anxiety and panic disorders. Unfortunately, Ativan also has a darker side, causing it to be part of a dangerous and sometimes even lethal group of substances. Ativan is a brand-name drug containing lorazepam, which is ... Read More
Shedding Light on the Party Drug Market in Rural Texas
It's well-known that drug abuse can happen anywhere, but trafficking and major seizures by enforcement officials are reputed to occur more often in the big cities or at least major suburbs — certainly not a small town in remote central Texas. But that's exactly what happened in Belton, the county seat of Bell County, ... Read More
Seizures: Mitigating a Serious Alcohol Withdrawal Risk
If you've abused alcohol for a number of consecutive days, months or years, the cumulative impact all that alcohol has on your body can dramatically increase the levels of dopamine within your brain — that's the neurotransmitter associated with pleasurable feelings like euphoria, relaxation and satisfaction. Given ... Read More
Xanax: A Drug Profile
Xanax is a type of benzodiazepine drug commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions such as anxiety and convulsions, but it can also be abused. Xanax, known generically as alprazolam, is a dangerous drug and must be taken under the care of a licensed doctor. Over 30 percent of people who overdose are ... Read More