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Polysubstance use is not an uncommon occurrence. Those who engage in polysubstance use often have an addiction to one or both substances. This is especially true when it comes to using substances with alcohol. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and when used with other drugs, can enhance or intensify their effects. One common polydrug pairing is hydrocodone and alcohol. Hydrocodone is an opioid drug commonly prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain. Mixing hydrocodone and alcohol can lead to potentially dangerous effects with short and long-term consequences.

Methamphetamine and cocaine are both powerful and highly addictive stimulant drugs. They affect the central nervous system and produce feelings of increased energy, alertness and a sense of euphoria. They are some of the most commonly abused drugs. In fact, they are sometimes mistaken for each other due to a similar appearance and effect on the brain and body. Though they share many similarities, meth and cocaine are also quite different.

Heroin is an illegal and highly addictive semi-synthetic opioid. It is derived from morphine, which is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seeds of the poppy plant. In a 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 1 million people ages 12 and over in the United States reported having a heroin addiction in the past year. The schedule I controlled substance impacts the brain’s central nervous system.

Keppra, also known by its generic name levetiracetam, is an anticonvulsant prescription medication that treats seizures. It is generally prescribed for patients who suffer from epilepsy and can be used in combination with other medications to treat seizures and other similar symptoms. Keppra is used to treat myoclonic epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy, focal impaired awareness or complex partial seizures, myoclonic seizures, secondarily generalized seizures and bilateral tonic clonic seizures.

Alcoholism is one of the most common types of mental illness affecting both young and older populations in the United States. Alcohol use disorder not only affects the mental well being of a user, but it can have physical effects as well. In long time, severe users of alcohol, there may be physical signs that appear not only in the body, but on the appearance of the face and skin. Alcoholic face is the non clinical term for someone with a red face and other distinct features due to excessive alcohol use. Oftentimes facial appearances can provide great insight into the health and well being of a person. Alcohol is a substance that can drastically alter a person’s physical appearance starting with their face.

Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death in the United States. Opioid addiction is driving the overdose death rate in the U.S., setting record highs with an estimated 112,000 deaths in the last 12 months. In this third wave of the opioid drug crisis, addiction experts and researchers are searching for new and effective methods to fight and treat this ever-rising threat. Harm reduction is an evidence-based approach to treating substance addiction and overdose that engages with people who use drugs and equips them with life saving tools and information.

Zoloft is one of the most popular antidepressants in the U.S. The second generation, newer class of antidepressants was developed to be better tolerated than its predecessors. It is known under the generic name Sertraline. The antidepressant is FDA-approved to help alleviate symptoms of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Zoloft is also often prescribed for off-label uses such as binge eating disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, bulimia nervosa, generalized anxiety disorder and sleep disorders.

Methamphetamine (meth) users experience a wide range of side effects and symptoms when the drug is being misused. One commonly known side effect is experiencing meth mites. Meth mites, or meth bugs, are not actual insects. They are imaginary bugs that meth abusers “feel” are crawling on and under their skin. These imaginary sensations are caused by the development of tactile hallucinations. This is another common side effect of meth abuse. Studies show about 43% of meth users with methamphetamine use disorder experience psychiatric symptoms, which includes hallucinations leading to the experience of meth mites.

Subutex was one of the first drugs formulated with buprenorphine and approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder. In 2002, the FDA approved Subutex to treat withdrawal symptoms in those diagnosed with opioid addiction. Before Subutex, methadone was the medication of choice in treating opioid abuse. Subutex contains one active ingredient, buprenorphine. The sublingual tablets were prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that included medication-assisted treatments (MAT) and cognitive therapies.

Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that falls under the category of norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). Also known by its brand name Wellbutrin, the prescription medication is FDA-approved for treating major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder and smoking cessation. Because this type of medication affects the central nervous system, there is a risk for dependence and quitting can be one of the most difficult substances to stop using. Bupropion withdrawal can be intense and dangerous if not carefully implemented through a professional behavioral health detox program.