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Mental health conditions such as anxiety have become more and more common in today’s society. Anxiety can be a crippling condition that interferes with a person’s day-to-day activities making them unable to properly function. One of the most common is generalized anxiety disorder. This is a condition in which a person can experience worry and anxiety for at least six months or more. Research and studies believe anxiety can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Medications such as Ativan have become popular in helping to treat symptoms of anxiety.

Gas station heroin is on the rise. There has been a recent spike in the abuse of illicit substance tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin.” Tianeptine had already been shown to be on the rise increasing at an alarming rate between 2014-2019.  And when the global pandemic came around, it caused an increase in drug use, which developed as a result of an increase in anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Antidepressant medications are one of the most prescribed and used drugs in the U.S. Physicians and clinicians prefer these medications as an alternative to benzodiazepines because there is much less potential for abuse of the drug. An estimated 10% of Americans are on antidepressant medications and an estimated 60% of those have been taking them for two years or more. Prozac or fluoxetine, is one of the more popular ones, with more than 28 million Americans reportedly using the drug. With its growing popularity, is Prozac an addictive drug?

Dilaudid, also known as hydromorphone, is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic that is derived from morphine. The Schedule II Controlled Substance works by providing relief of moderate to severe pain. It is eight times more potent than morphine and has a high potential for abuse and a tolerance to the drug can develop in as little as two weeks of continual use. Dilaudid is an opioid and produces similar opioid effects such as feelings of euphoria and intense relaxation. The drug is a short-acting opioid and doesn’t stay in the system as long as some longer-lasting opioid pain medications.

White knuckling. Willpower. These terms are seldom used when referring to substance use disorder treatment. It is often a controversial topic regarding methods and treatments of recovery. Can sheer willpower and personal strength help a person overcome a substance use disorder or alcohol addiction? Can sheer willpower help a person maintain long-term sobriety? There are many different types of recovery methods including 12-step programs, support groups, individual counseling and medication management. White knuckling is another unique approach to addiction and recovery.  

Have allergic reactions to something you ate? Take Benadryl. Suddenly break out into hives from being exposed to something you’re allergic to? Take Benadryl. Having difficulty sleeping due to uncomfortable allergy symptoms? Take Benadryl. Benadryl is one of the most popular at-home medications available. Benadryl is an over-the-counter allergy medication.

Opioid prescription pain medications are highly potent and one of the most addictive substances that have led to decades of overdose deaths in the United States. The overprescribing of these drugs along with easy access and availability has contributed to prescription drug abuse and illegal opioid drug abuse. Two of the most popular medications are codeine and hydrocodone. Though they are both opioid medications, codeine and hydrocodone are prescribed to treat different types of pain.

Ecstasy, more commonly referred to as molly, is a popular party drug. The club drug is wildly popular among young people and young adults. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2021, an estimated 2.2 million people reported using ecstasy. Ecstasy or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is an illicit stimulant, psychedelic and synthetically produced drug.

Alcohol use disorder is a common mental health condition characterized by the unhealthy use of alcohol despite repeated patterns of negative consequences. A dangerous illness that often develops due to alcohol use disorder is wet brain. Wet brain, also known by its scientific name Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). The degenerative brain disorder is a combination of two different brain diseases: Wernicke Encephalopathy and Korsakoff Psychosis. Although anyone can develop wet brain, it is most commonly occurring in those who abuse alcohol.

Purple drank. Sizzurp. Texas tea. Dirty sprite. Purple tonic. The most commonly known name is lean. Lean is a liquid substance mixture of codeine-based cough syrup, an antihistamine such as Promethazine, soda and hard candy for added sweetness. In some cases, alcohol is also added to the mixture. The combination of prescription-strength cough medication and an antihistamine can produce feelings of euphoria and intense relaxation. It is most popular among teens and young people and can become highly habit-forming within a short period of time and lead to addiction.