Addiction

As a woman stated on the NY Daily News, “You wake up tired and you just count the hours until the day is over. And you hope tomorrow’s going to be better.” Ambien is a widely used hypnotic medication that was designed for short-term use to combat insomnia. The prescription drugs work by activating the neurotransmitter GABA and binding it to the GABA receptors in the same location of benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium, according to the Huffington Post. Ambien works very efficiently at causing someone to feel sleepy – typically within 20 minutes of taking it. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that approximately half a million people in the United States are currently using Ambien and other sedatives – but many are probably not aware of the dangers of this prescription medication. For one, the effects can be very harmful when Ambien is paired with other drugs, particularly anti-anxiety medication and pain relievers. A report stated that between 2005 and 2010, emergency room visits from Ambien rose from 6,111 visits to 19,487 visits. Mixing medications is like a science experiment to the body because you don’t know how each medication is going to react to the body and to one another. Ambien also can take longer to leave the body, causing many people to feel impaired while driving or operating machinery. Women take much longer for the medication to leave their system, and the recommended dosage for medications like Ambien has been reduced because of this. Common complaints associated with Ambien and similar hypnotics have included daytime drowsiness, dizziness, hallucinations, agitation, sleep-walking and drowsiness while driving, according to The Atlantic. Does this mean you should not accept this medication if your doctor prescribes it to you? Not exactly. Ambien can be relatively safe if you take the doses recommended and you stay in close contact with your doctor to discuss your symptoms. If any symptoms of concern arise, always seek out medical attention immediately. Stay informed on what you are taking and how much you should be taking, and do not mix Ambien with other medications, especially other depressants.

With the uprising of the opioid crisis, pain medication is landing front in center as a concern of many Americans. Too many overdoses have occurred due to opioids, and the government is working to enact a plan to educate the communicate on the dangers of misusing these drugs, as well as the importance of either staying away from or highly monitoring prescription medications that are highly addictive. No matter your reason for taking pain relievers, these are the medications you should be most concerned of due to their addictive properties:

Celebrities shape the public perception, endorse values and beliefs, and influence people. The stories of celebrities in the United States have the propensity to challenge others and inspire them, no matter the story. Fergie is no exception – the singer has shared her story of addiction with millions, and her 18 years of sobriety has impacted many. Billboard states that Fergie really struggled with crystal meth addiction, and she found herself “hallucinating on a daily basis”. Understanding what Fergie went through and what led to her 18-year sobriety may give you further hope in your own journey through recovery. Crystal meth can cause hallucinations, erratic behavior, panic, psychosis, and more. As Fergie told a British news publication, “At my lowest point, I was [suffering from] chemically induced psychosis and dementia.” The singer was addicted to the substance back when she was part of the group Wild Orchid, and was still addicted even after leaving the group. Fergie, 42, explained a time when she was so high on crystal meth that she thought the CIA, FBI, and SWAT teams were following her. She described the experience as this: “They tried to kick me out, because I was moving down the aisle in this crazy way, as I thought there was an infrared camera in the church trying to check for my body…I bolted past the altar into the hallway and two people were chasing me. I remember thinking if I walk outside, and the SWAT team is out there, I was right all along. But if they’re not out there, then it’s the drugs making me seeing things and I’m going to end up in an institution.” That moment truly awakened Fergie to her battle of addiction, as she described that moment in the parking lot as “freeing”. New York Daily News states that hypnotherapy has worked very well for Fergie, and it continues to help her relax. Fergie stated for People Magazine, “I thank the day it happened to me. Because that’s my strength, my faith, my hope for something better.” Although Fergie really struggled with crystal meth addiction, that one memorable night led her to recovery. It showed her that she deserves more than this, and that she can lead a happier, healthier life. Millions of stories are like Fergie’s, and their stories of recovery can be yours too. Make the decision to seek help today; it’s never too late.

We’ve all heard of the gateway drug theory – as a kid, you were likely told that smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol could lead to more drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Programs such as D.A.R.E. – Drug Abuse Resistance Education – taught us at an early age to always say “No!” to someone who is offering us drugs or other substances. This program and theory might have helped some of us refrain from using, at least at a youthful age, but is the theory true? The New York Times has broken down the theory and provided several useful pieces of data. Several studies have shown the effect of one drug to another in lab rat experiments. For example, a Columbia University study found that rats exposed to alcohol were far more likely than other rats to press a lever that dispensed cocaine. A 2011 study found similar findings in a study that explored nicotine use in mice. While these types of studies have shown some sort of causal relationships, many scientists are still wondering the effectiveness of these studies due to the simple fact that the studies’ assumptions were that humans respond similarly to rats when it comes to narcotics. Other studies have proven that users who took a drug, like marijuana for example, were able to reduce their use of other drugs. For example, a 2008 study found that individuals who smoked marijuana could reduce their dose of pain-relieving opioids. Newer research is also concluding that other factors, such as poverty and poor social environment have greater predictability in one’s use of drugs than using soft drugs during childhood. A 2016 study conducted by researchers in Texas titled “Gateway hypothesis” and early drug use: Additional findings from tracking a population-based sample of adolescents to adulthood”, further emphasized that childhood drug use wasn’t consistent through adulthood and that other factors such as social context and role of community social norms should also be considered. Does this mean there is no such thing as gateway drugs? Not exactly. Research has proven there is some connection, but each person is different, and some people may be more impacted by childhood drug use than others. Personality, addictive-behavior tendencies, temperament, social context, environment, biological factors, and so much more play a role in addiction.

Valentine’s Day is known for flowers, chocolates, romance, cards, champagne, and more. However, those without a significant other may feel strong emotions on Valentine’s Day due to the expectation that you should have someone special on that day and if you don’t, you’re lonely. Emotions that could arise from this include guilt, sadness, depression, anxiety, and anger. No matter the case, sobriety is key for those of us in recovery, and those emotions could trigger us. Here is your ultimate guide to getting through Valentine’s Day, no matter where you’re at in your recovery:

With the opioid crisis and nation-wide concerns of illicit drug use, it’s no surprise that addiction is a hot topic right now. Many “natural” drugs can be extremely dangerous, and can result in individuals experiencing paranoia, confusion, dizziness, coma, and even death. Synthetic, or man-made, substances pose additional risks, as individuals aren’t aware of everything they are consuming; disproportional doses of drugs and dangerous combinations can lead to lethal consequences. News reports have lately announced a new drug that has hit the market, and it could kill you in one dose. Known as “grey death”, this drug can be dangerous to even touch with gloves. There have been overdose cases involving this drug in Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio lately – and it seems the drug is a dangerous cocktail consisting of heroin, fentanyl, the elephant tranquilizer carfentanil, and a synthetic opioid called U-47700. Users can inject, swallow, smoke, or snort the drug. The name “grey death” comes from the drug’s appearance, which looks like a concrete mixture that appears as either chunks or rocks. Many scientists are stumped by the color of the drug, as they have stated that none of the drugs mixed should produce that color. What makes grey death so dangerous is its potency. News reports have revealed that just one flake of carfentanil can tranquilize a 2,000-pound elephant. The “grey death” drug is 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. The drug has been said to be able to float by air and to be absorbed by touch alone. Deneen Kilcrease from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation told the Associated Press, “Grey death is one of the scariest combinations that I have ever seen in nearly 20 years of forensic chemistry drug analysis.” Grey death is very fast-acting, and a lethal dose isn’t even visible. “You need smaller and smaller amounts because [these drugs] don’t get metabolized. They go straight to the brain,” stated Dr. Francesco Leri, a professor at the University of Guelph who studies behavioral pharmacology and neuroscience. Since the drug can be taken in such small doses, many people are sending and receiving packages of it through postal mail. Always be alert as to what you are taking and consult a doctor before consuming any unknown substance. Seeking medical attention beforehand could save your life.

Many of us who experience anxiety and depression have trouble with daily tasks such as completing deadlines or attending meetings; pangs of fear regarding social environments or deep feelings of hopelessness can leave us isolated and unmotivated. While there are many effective treatment methods to help rid some of the unwanted symptoms of anxiety and depression, a new trend is taking place that involves illegal drugs. Known as “micro-dosing”, this technique involves taking minute quantities of drugs such as LSD or psilocybin (magic mushrooms) or mescaline (found in the Peyote cactus) every few days to enhance creativity, productivity, heighten alertness, and boost energy. The Huffington Post notes that most people dose once every three days in the morning, and the doses are so small that they provide just enough for benefit but not enough for a heightened “trip”. How did this technique come about? Dr. Albert Hoffman, the Swiss chemist who discovered LSD, engaged in micro-dosing for a few decades of his life, and lived to be age 102. At age 100 he was giving lectures at the University still, and he stated that it helped him clarify his thinking. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies covered an interview that was done with Dr. Hoffman in 1996, where he discussed his perspective of the power of psychedelics to allow further entrance into a “spiritual world” with deeper understanding of life and its meaning. He discussed how psychedelic drugs became illegal, and how perhaps further medical research could provide an opening for these drugs to re-enter psychological treatment in the future. He described the psychedelic situation in the past as this, “And back at that time, there were unfortunately many occasions where psychedelics were not treated with proper respect… the psychedelics came to be feared, and were taken out of the hands of responsible investigators and psychiatrists. It was a great loss for medicine and psychiatry, and for mankind.” While many people report benefits of micro-dosing, there has not yet been enough research to conclude that it is a safe and effective mode of treatment. Always consult a physician before taking any kind of drug and seek medical help if you experience any dangerous side effects.

You may have done it at least once in your life. You went out, had a bit too much to drink, and you ended up contacting someone with slurred speech and an unsound mind. For some who party hard, this behavior becomes a repeated ritual. Although it sounds like a common mistake to commit while intoxicated, people need to realize what drunk dialing or texting really represents: a lapse in control.

Unfortunately, relapse is common in recovery. The latest statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) show that rate of remission when dealing with drug addiction ranges between 40 and 60 percent. Due to this extensive problem, an ideology still featured in various substance treatment programs is that relapse is a natural part of the recovery process. Despite NIDA’s data, the underlying cause of relapse is actually preventable.

The realms of addiction and mental health treatment, collectively referred to as behavioral health care, are often viewed as distinct, yet related issues. Many modern treatment centers care for both types of disorder, but creating a unified level of recovery is a challenge. However, according to a number of sources, addictive and mental disorders are more than just similar. Addiction is a psychological disorder.

Addiction is not an isolated incident. It is a chronic condition that requires continuing care. Likewise, excessive substance abuse can contribute to a number of problems besides one’s own health. Addictive behavior can lead to other illegal activity, unlawful acts can lead to being arrested, and incarceration can even force individuals back into addiction.

The World Wide Web is an irreplaceable resource in the modern age, but it can also be an added source of unrest. This dichotomy especially applies to individuals undergoing recovery. Although online forums and psychoeducational texts can be accessed instantly through computers and cellphones, the Internet itself can easily become an additional, addictive element in people’s lives.