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The world has changed significantly over the last two decades alone. While technology and healthcare have advanced, we are seeing an alarming increase in addiction and overdose statistics. Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020, there has been a 23% increase in alcohol abuse alone. Drug abuse has increased 16% since that time as well. 

Choosing to go to treatment during the holidays can seem out of the question. Familial and societal obligations make the idea of checking in somewhere impossible. If you’re actively using drugs or alcohol, choosing sobriety is the greatest gift for both yourself and your family. Being present is hard when you are in the throes of addiction. Giving up one holiday season for a lifetime of sober and present festivities is an investment in your future. Substance use disorders do not have to define your life.

Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel and behave normally. It is usually characterized by symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, unusual behaviors and disoriented thinking. Schizophrenia can also present within those who suffer from alcohol or substance use disorders. This is often referred to as having a co-occurring mental health condition. In order to treat every aspect of a person’s addiction, the substance use disorder as well as the mental health disorder must be treated simultaneously through therapies and approved medications. Today, second generation antipsychotic medications such as Seroquel are often prescribed to help those who are diagnosed with a co-occurring condition such as schizophrenia.

Addiction is a disease of the brain. It can be triggered by genetics, environmental or social factors. Similar to other medical diseases, it is preventable, it is treatable, it changes in biology and if left untreated, it can last for a lifetime. According to the National Institute of Health, about 4% of US citizens suffer from a drug use disorder. This equates to over 23 million Americans experiencing some sort of problematic drug use. The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health states that repeated use of addictive substances, can cause changes in the brain circuits that govern pleasure, reward, learning, stress, decision making and self-control.

Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that can produce dissociative and hallucinogenic effects. When taken, it distorts the perception of sight, sound and touch. Ketamine can induce a state of sedation, intense relaxation and relief from pain. New research has found that ketamine treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other types of mood disorders has been proven effective in minimizing symptoms. Ketamine therapy can provide symptom relief from anxiety and treatment-resistant depression with minimal side effects.

In a recent 2021 study, an estimated 11.8 million young adults aged 18-25, reported using marijuana within the past year. And in 2022, about 30% of 12th graders reported using marijuana within the past year. The usage of marijuana among the younger generation has steadily increased since the 1990s. Today one of the most popular forms of cannabis use is vaping. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, around 30% of people who use cannabis, can develop a marijuana use disorder. The risk is even higher when users begin to use the substance during adolescence. Once an addiction has developed, the initial treatment process begins with marijuana detox.

Are you supporting your loved one with a substance use disorder? Or are you enabling them? What is the difference? Supporting an addict and enabling an addict are two very different forms of help. Addiction is a disease that not only affects the substance abuser, but their family, friends and loved ones. It is only natural to want to help them treat and recover from this disease.

Liver damage and liver disease is a common side effect of alcohol use disorder. With alcohol abuse being one of the most common mental illnesses globally, alcohol-related liver disease is also on the rise. The majority of those who abuse alcohol go on to develop fatty liver disease, which is a form of alcohol-related liver damage. The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. Unlike some other organs, the liver can heal and repair itself even after years of damage and exposure to toxins like alcohol.

People ask “how long does Oxycontin stay in your system?” for various reasons. These can include for medical uses, such as on a pain relief basis. If individuals aim to pass a drug test, they might ask about this. In both scenarios, there are a lot of factors that determine how long oxycontin stays in your system. 

Major depressive disorder is a common yet serious mental health condition in which prescription medications are often used to treat. Trazodone, a FDA-approved antidepressant is a medication with sedative properties used to treat symptoms of depression. Trazodone produces sensations of relaxation and drowsiness that can also be used off-label for treating anxiety and sleep conditions. Trazodone is generally considered part of a long-term medication treatment plan. Because of this, it can result in dependence, addiction and the risk of overdose. This is especially more likely when trazodone and alcohol are combined.