Physical, Emotional, and Mental Changes Caused by Addiction

Addiction is a disease that attacks all aspects of human psychology and physiology. The consequences of addiction are severe and can cause fatal lung and heart conditions. Addiction affects mental health and can elevate symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Gaining insight into the complex nature of…

Benzodiazepine Dependence

Benzodiazepines (benzos) are a type of medication known as tranquilizers that are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, seizures, and muscle tension. Benzos such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium and other anti-anxiety medication are designed for short-term use, usually a few weeks or months, since they are highly addictive. Benzos are commonly abused, although…

What’s So Bad About Selfishness?

Recovery from addiction is about more than just abstinence from drugs and alcohol. It is a process of achieving and maintaining sobriety, as well as growing and developing both personally and spiritually. Selfishness and self-centeredness can be major stumbling blocks on our journey of recovery. We should do our best to shift our behavior from…

Debunking Myths about Addiction

Addiction is an extremely complex disease that affects the mind, body, and spirit. Due to its complexity, many people have difficulty understanding exactly how it affects a person. Misinformed people will often claim that it is not a disease, or that it is the result of a lack of willpower, a moral failure, or a…

What are the Effects of Salvia?

Salvia Divinorum, also known as seer’s sage, is a psychoactive herb in the sage family that is native to southern Mexico and parts of South America. The plant gained popularity for its ability to produce brief but intense hallucinogenic effects. The active ingredient in Salvia Divinorum, salvinorin A, is an extremely potent psychoactive that cause…

The Dangers of Insufflation

Some people choose to insufflate, or snort, psychoactive substances because it causes them to affect the person faster. When a drug is snorted, the drugs are absorbed through mucous membranes in the nose and enter into the bloodstream without being broken down by the stomach. The result is a stronger and faster high, albeit a…

The Tragic Loss of a Comedy Genius

Harris Wittels, co-executive producer of Parks and Recreation and inventor of the word “humblebrag,” passed away from a heroin overdose in February of 2015. Wittels was well-respected in the comedy world and wrote for shows like The Sarah Silverman Program, Eastbound and Down, and, most famously, Parks and Recreation. His story and struggles with addiction,…