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Alcohol and substance addiction affects every one of any social class, race, background and culture. It not only affects the person with an addiction. It affects the entire support unit of friends and family. For many people, alcohol and drinking is a part of ordinary life during social or cultural events. In many places, it is socially acceptable to enjoy an alcoholic drink. However, alcohol effects vary depending on each person and in some cases, dangerous alcohol drinking patterns can lead to an addiction. Watching a family member or friend struggle with alcohol addiction can be heartbreaking, difficult and frustrating.

Pink cocaine is the latest and trending designer drug currently taking over the party drug scene. It has recently been linked to the celebrity death of One Direction singer Liam Payne as well as music entertainer Sean “Diddy” Combs. Contrary to the name, pink cocaine isn’t actually a form of cocaine. According to a study published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, pink cocaine is a drug concoction typically consisting of ketamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, an opioid and other psychoactive substances. In some cases, the drug cocktail can also contain caffeine. In fact, every batch of pink cocaine that is manufactured is different containing different ingredients in varying amounts. This only adds to the dangers and unpredictability of the drug mixture.

Alcoholism is a complex mental health disease with many issues that can affect many aspects of a person’s life. Not only does it affect the person with alcoholism, but it also affects their community, family, friends and support system. Addiction can be painful for everyone involved. It can create emotional and psychological challenges for everyone. Parents of alcoholics are affected. Friends of alcoholics are affected. Children of alcoholics are also greatly affected. In fact, studies have found that 7.5 million children in the US live with at least one parent who struggles with alcohol addiction. Support groups and outreach programs for families of alcoholics have become more important now than ever.

Ketamine and alcohol, also known as party drugs, have been a popular polydrug combination since the rise of recreational ketamine in the 1980s. Mixing the two substances, although quite popular among party-goers, can be risky and life-threatening. It can be dangerous even in the smallest of amounts. Both ketamine and alcohol affect the central nervous system and are commonly abused and used recreationally. When taken together, they impact the same chemical receptors in the brain and can exacerbate each other’s negative side effects.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and can impact brain functions including the ability to communicate with the rest of the body. When alcohol depresses and slows down brain functions, this can also lead to a decrease in cognitive functions leading to a common alcohol-induced phenomenon called brain fog. Alcohol-induced brain fog is a common symptom of excessive alcohol use, especially in those who have alcohol use disorder. Brain fog is defined by a struggle with confused thoughts, unreliable memory and overall mental lethargy. Brain fog can also be described as having a cognitive haze. This type of brain fog is common with alcohol consumption and can gradually improve with alcohol cessation.

Alcohol is one of the world’s most abused substances. Alcohol abuse can affect multiple systems in the body including the brain, heart, liver and kidneys. We often hear of those with alcohol use disorder suffering from brain changes, cardiovascular disease and liver damage. However, alcohol abuse can also profoundly impact the kidneys. In fact, a 2018 study found that alcohol use disorder has been linked to increasing the likelihood of a person developing a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric mental illness often associated with morbidity and a high suicide rate. It affects an estimated 3% of adults in the United States. Compared to other psychiatric disorders, bipolar disorder has the highest lifetime risk of suicide with the majority of patients experiencing symptoms of depression for a significant part of their lives. Bipolar disease causes people to experience extreme changes in mood, energy and behavior. The most common and notable characteristics of bipolar disorder include manic episodes, heightened emotions, erratic behavior and risk for harmful actions. According to a new 2022 review, studies and evidence are showing the beneficial use of ketamine treatment therapy to help treat some aspects of bipolar disorder. Can ketamine therapy help treat this condition?

Marijuana. Weed. Cannabis. The substance goes by many different names. It is a popular mind-altering substance that is most commonly used recreationally and illegally among people of all age groups. Today the perception of weed among many people is that the drug is not as harmful or dangerous in comparison to other mind-altering substances. This sentiment is especially shared among the younger generation. So what type of drug is marijuana? In many cases, marijuana is put into its own classification of cannabis.

Cocaine is one of the most addictive substances often used recreationally to produce feelings of short-term euphoria, hyperactivity, and increased energy levels. The addictive stimulant is derived from the leaves of plants native to the South American region. Misusing or abusing cocaine can lead to dangerous side effects such as cardiac damage, increased blood pressure, and chronic nasal damage if the drug is administered intranasally.

Benzodiazepines are some of the most frequently used and frequently prescribed prescription medications in the U.S. Each year millions of prescriptions are written by clinical providers for benzos such as Xanax and Klonopin. Benzos are also one of the only prescription medications that when abused or misused, can cause both physical dependency and the experience of withdrawal symptoms. These highly potent and highly habit-forming medications are designed for various levels of efficacy and potency. However, even at the lowest potency, they can become addictive and lead to a substance use disorder.