Coke. Coca. Snow. Flake. Blow. These are all slang or street names for cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance due to its medicinal properties and the high likelihood for abuse. Cocaine is derived from the coca plant (Erythroxylon coca) native to South America, which has traditionally – for over 4,000 years – been used as a…
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What would a sober St. Patrick’s Day mean to you? Any sober holiday is a big deal for men and women battling addiction. It means finding joy in that holiday but not having to turn to alcohol or drugs to do so. That may be what you used to do, but today, you have a…
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious mental health disorder. Though the term is used to refer to just having quirks or needing things to be orderly, in the drug disorder, a person cannot control their actions when it comes to repetitive behaviors. Those behaviors are not always related to the organization either. Knowing the signs…
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Benzodiazepines (aka “Benzos” and “Downers”) are a class of psychoactive drugs that enhance the effect of a chemical in the brain called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). This neurotransmitter suppresses neuron activity, slowing the brain and nervous system. There are over a dozen benzodiazepines on the market, and they differ in absorption rate, duration of effects, and…
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When a person is faced with addiction and pregnancy, everything seems complicated and impossible. Dependency or addiction means an individual is unable to stop using drugs or alcohol even if they want to do so because the substances have caused changes to their brain chemistry. Without the substance, individuals have extreme difficulty functioning properly and…
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Life is challenging, with numerous stressors affecting most people each day. For people with addiction, it’s difficult to manage those stressors without healthy coping skills. Anyone can benefit from developing more effective ways for managing stress, addiction cravings, and mental health disorders. For those in recovery, doing so is even more important. At Oceanfront Recovery,…
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There’s a growing link between Xanax and pop culture. Xanax is a type of benzodiazepine much like Klonopin and Valium. It’s often used to treat conditions such as anxiety and seizures. Yet, this medication can be abused and, when used incorrectly, can cause an addiction. Even as a prescription drug, people have turned to it…
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In the year 2017, it was estimated that approximately 18 million people misused prescription medications at least once in the past year. Opioid overdoses from prescriptions were five times higher in 2016 than in 1999. A final shocking statistic is that the number of prescription drugs being prescribed by doctors since the ’90s has increased. You…
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Addiction damages relationships in many cases. Friends, family, coworkers, and even people you do not know well can be impacted by what’s happening with your mental and physical health. The things you say and do often contribute to these problems. Relationships in recovery may seem impossible or strained, but that doesn’t have to be the…
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Clinical depression is a mood disorder that can affect your ability to complete daily tasks and socialize as you might typically do. It can arise in any developmental period, but it is common to see it establish itself during adulthood. For a doctor to diagnose a patient with depression, the symptoms should be present for…
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