Benzodiazepines, also referred to as benzos, are a class of hypnotic/sedative pharmaceutical drugs prescribed by doctors to relieve anxiety/agitation, insomnia, muscle spasms, mild seizures and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Dentists and physicians may give patients a benzodiazepine to help calm them before undergoing ... Read More
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Understanding Amphetamines
Amphetamines are a group of drugs that stimulate the central nervous system. Some amphetamines are medically prescribed to treat various health conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Other amphetamines are used recreationally. Regardless of their use, ... Read More
Understanding Alcohol
The World Health Organization states that 5% of all deaths across the globe are due to alcohol use. It’s a common but preventable cause of death. This alcohol profile provides answers to your questions about alcohol, how it impacts you, and why it can be bad for you. What Is Alcohol? Alcohol is a beverage made from ... Read More
The Straight “Dope” On the Evolution of Drug Slang
Updated November 8, 2024 We've all heard terms like "dope," "smack," "speed," and "nose candy" to describe illegal drugs on television in the schoolyard and recovery meetings and addiction treatment programs. Drug dealers and users have used drug slang, also known as drug street names, for decades, and it's an ... Read More
Is Gambling an Addiction, and Is There a Cure?
While we label many behaviors as addictive, there is only one non-substance-related type that is considered a disorder in the DSM. That disorder is Gambling addiction. The designation and opinions about gambling disorder vary greatly among people as well. While heroin use is an activity almost everyone would consider a ... Read More
The Advent of New Medications Is Improving How We Treat Addiction
There was once a time in the United States when doctors tried treating alcoholics with morphine, believing that addiction to morphine would make them more functional than their addiction to alcohol. Today, we see how misguided it was, to a laughable degree. But there's nothing laughable about the idea of using a ... Read More
Narcan: The Must-Have Drug to Have on Hand if Your Loved One Has an Opiate Addiction
It's 2017, Chicago, and Chris Rogers is walking the three blocks from his parking spot to the front door of his apartment building. He passes a park and sees a woman motionless on the ground. He approaches her and recognizes it immediately — an overdose. He has to make the split-second decision between ... Read More
How One “Stop Drinking” Pill Can Aid in Alcohol Recovery
While the integration of "medically assisted treatment," or MAT, into inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs is a relatively new concept, some of the drugs used in these programs are not. Antabuse — one of the brand names for a drug called disulfiram — is regarded as one of the very first medications ... Read More
