Not everyone becomes addicted to drugs but some people really struggle with this challenge. When people use drugs, they smoke, inject, snort, or swallow. This can dictate how much drug gets into the brain, how quickly, and how often brain levels of the drug rise and fall. When a person smokes marijuana, the brain levels…
Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as SAD, affects those who are particularly vulnerable to develop substance abuse problems. SAD affects up to 7% of adult Americans, and victims are unable to function effectively or be comfortable in many different social situations. Many symptoms of SAD manifest themselves physically, such as excessive sweating, blushing, rapid pulse…
Drug use has reached into the millions for consumers of drugs and alcohol. Many millions have tried drugs and continue to use each day in spite of consequences. Some people even use it for self-medicating purposes. They might be trying to escape stress, trauma, discomfort, or symptoms of mental health issues. Different types of psychoactive…
Globalization brought on by the internet has been both good and bad. Good in that information flows more freely through our fingertips. Bad in that it is not regulated in some ways and drugs are slipping into the black market where people are getting ahold of some very nasty types of drugs taking their lives.…
Drug toxicity refers to how poisonous or harmful a substance may be. This happens when a person has too much of a drug in their bloodstream, leading to adverse effects on the body. It may occur when too high a dose is given or the liver and kidneys can remove the drug from the bloodstream.…
Many employees may be impaired on the job without a supervisor or boss knowing. Having a substance abuse problem can lead to challenges for the company, other employees, and also be dangerous for the person and others at the job site. Learn more about what dangers lurk in the workplace when people struggle with addiction.…
Marijuana is made from shredded and dried up parts of the cannabis plant, including flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems. While many people smoke or vape it, it can also be consumed as an edible. Different methods of taking the drug may impact the body differently. When it is inhaled, the drug is released into the…
The relationship between low self-esteem and addiction has been established for a very long time. People who use drugs, especially women, may have low self-esteem which can lead to behavioral addictions like eating disorders and compulsive buying. Alcohol or drugs may mask insecurities but they don’t help a person’s self-esteem get better. Rebuilding Self-Esteem When…
Mental illness and drug use seem to go hand-in-hand. Usually, mental illness leads to drug abuse as an attempt to self-medicate symptoms. However, using drugs also can lead to mental disorders by causing drastic changes in the chemistry of the brain. These brain changes can either cause mental disorders later in life, or cause latent…
DXM, or dextromethorphan, is a common ingredients in many over-the-counter cough medicines. It is often abused in high doses because it has dissociative, sedative, and stimulant properties. Due to its availability, one in ten teenagers reported abusing DXM in 2008. When taken as directed, DXM-containing medications are effective cough suppressants, but when abused, they can…