As healthcare professionals and researchers have watched the opioid epidemic sweep through the country, the use of needles has also increased dramatically, bringing a host of additional problems. According to new research conducted by scientists at USC, not only is the number of people administering their drugs via needles is increasing, but the amount of […]
In 2015 there were over 30,000 deaths attributed to opioids. While this number is heartbreakingly high, it is likely not completely accurate. According to a team of researchers at Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, many overdose cases that have several drugs in their toxicology report don’t even get counted in the totals
One of the most challenging barriers to overcome when it comes to handling an addiction is the stigma and misunderstandings attached to being an addict. People who have substance use disorders are often viewed as poor, uneducated, minority males who are also criminals. However, this is simply not true. In fact, according to JAMA Psychiatry,
Viewing Opioid Addiction as a Public Health Problem Read More »
One of the more serious, yet under-acknowledged, side effects of cocaine use is the risky behavior that can arise after using the drug. Risky behavior can include actions such as violence, theft or other crime, and poor decision making regarding sexual encounters. In fact, risky sex-related behavior is exactly what researchers investigated in a recent
Research Explains Why Cocaine Addicts Display Risky Behavior Read More »
Let’s face it. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) as we know it will be going away. As with other political arguments, this inevitability is met with scorn by some people and is praised by others. Right now, the only thing that is certain is that there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this change, including
What Does a Repeal of the ACA Mean for Addiction Treatment? Read More »
The results of a new study have identified how drug abuse and addiction can increase the rate of aging, as well as age-related illnesses. These include inflammation, cellular aging and decline in brain volume and function. The list of age-related ailments also includes early onset of brain, liver, kidney and heart diseases. The study, which
Most people understand that the physical signs of drug abuse are apparent in an intravenous drug user’s skin. There are other signs of addiction that are apparent to a dermatologist who examines their patients’ skin. These trained medical professionals can determine when a patient may be having a problem with chemicals and can suggest they
The results of a new study reveal that high school students are not using opioids like prescription pain medications and heroin as much as adults. The rate of opioid use and overdose deaths has reached epidemic proportions, but has continued to decline among high school students recently. Over the past five years, the rate of
A unique drug addiction program developed by a small fishing town in Massachusetts has been able to successfully place close to 400 addicts into treatment programs almost every time they asked for help. A team from the Boston Medical Center and Boston University’s School of Public Health has released numbers saying that 376 people have
Local Police Department Helps Hundreds of Addicts Get Treatment Read More »
The business of selling OxyContin is dying in the US, but the drug maker earned billions of dollars during its heyday. The country is currently in the throes of what has been described as an opioid epidemic that is responsible for 200,000 deaths. Many people believe that OxyContin was one of the drugs responsible for
In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, researchers are releasing data showing that there is an increase in drug and alcohol abuse after a natural disaster. Since drugs and alcohol are often turned to in times of crisis and extreme stress, it is understandable why there can be an uptick during disasters such as hurricanes and
Drug and Alcohol Use Intensifies During Natural Disasters Read More »
Every major city in America has certain parts in it that are known to be riddled with drugs. People from surrounding suburbs oftentimes travel to these parts of the city to obtain their drugs, whether they stay there to use or bring them back home. A commonly held belief among the general public was that
Study: Suburbs Not the Only Places Heroin Use is Increasing Read More »
