Trending Articles

A persons hand is laid out on a dark table next to a syringe, cash, bags of drugs and powdered drugs, which represents meth vs crack similarities and differences.

Meth vs Crack: What are the differences and similarities between these two commonly abused drugs?

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.

Meth vs Crack: What are the differences and similarities between these two commonly abused drugs? Read More »

A man in a gray hoodie is seen pour white powdered heroin into a spoon representing the symptoms of heroin withdrawal.

What is the timeline for Heroin Withdrawal and how do you treat it?

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.

What is the timeline for Heroin Withdrawal and how do you treat it? Read More »

A young women in a dark hoodie is sitting on the sofa holding a glass of wine in one hand and her other hand contains a few pills representing keppra and alcohol.

What are the Effects of Keppra and Alcohol?

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.

What are the Effects of Keppra and Alcohol? Read More »

A zoomed in photo of a womans alcoholic face features consisting of textured skin and reddish and purple spider veins in the cheek and nose area of her face.

How to spot an Alcoholic Face

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.

How to spot an Alcoholic Face Read More »

A black and blue bag labeled naloxone kit filled with clean syringes and gloves laying next to two bottles of naloxone represent what you may find at a harm reduction action center.

What are Harm Reduction Action Centers?

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.

What are Harm Reduction Action Centers? Read More »

A pile of white pills with a purple sertraline pill on top represents the question is Zoloft addictive?

Is Zoloft Addictive?

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.

Is Zoloft Addictive? Read More »

A man in a white shirt shows his hands with dry red patches of picked and dry skin caused by meth mites.

What are Meth Mites?

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.

What are Meth Mites? Read More »

A variety of colorful pills, capsules and tablets, which include Subutex, are lined up in rows represent how long Subutex stays in your system.

How long does Subutex stay in your System?

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.

How long does Subutex stay in your System? Read More »

On a dark table, white tablets surround a purple tablet labeled bupropion represent what the bupropion withdrawal timeline might look like.

Bupropion Withdrawal Timeline

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.

Bupropion Withdrawal Timeline Read More »

A group of young people sitting on a curb against a blue wall drinking and smoking answering the question of what is the number one drug used by teens.

What is the number one drug used by teens?

Youth and adolescents experimenting with drugs and substances is not a new occurrence. It is quite common. Young people often cannot connect the link between their drug-using actions and risky consequences in the future. Because their brain has not fully developed, they cannot comprehend the impact of their actions and behaviors. Teens and young adults tend to feel untouchable and indestructible to the consequences of drug and alcohol use. This leads to the reckless use of alcohol, prescription medications, inhalants, over-the-counter cold and cough medications as well as illegal substances.

What is the number one drug used by teens? Read More »