Author: Gary Jackson

For that reason, abstaining from alcohol altogether may be the best way to prevent undesirable effects, such as relationship issues or legal trouble. Alternative solutions may involve setting drink limits, avoiding alcohol when you’re already having intense emotions, or opting to have emotional conversations when you’re sober. With some insight into factors that can cause […]

Medical detox alone will not adequately treat substance use disorders; an in-depth treatment program should follow to address the long-term effects of MDMA abuse. This heterogeneity of ecstasy pills is one of the reasons that withdrawal symptoms have not been characterized as of yet. Withdrawal symptoms and their severity vary with the specific “brand” or […]

But what prompts the first instance of methamphetamine abuse? Research shows many factors may contribute to someone using meth for the first time. The chances you’ll take too much meth are higher if you inject meth, but harmful or life-threatening health problems can happen no matter what method you use. Scars can form in your […]

The 2018 NSDUH estimated that for adults ages 65 and older the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and opioid (including prescription opioids) use in the past twelve months were 43 percent, 14 percent, 4.1 percent, and 1.3 percent, respectively. The twelve-month prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and drug use disorder (DUD) (the NSDUH does […]

When heavy or binge drinking is the norm in a family, people tend to fall into drinking as normal behavior. Health care professionals use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to assess whether a person has AUD and to determine the severity, if the disorder is present. Severity […]

The study of effectiveness of motivational enhancement strategies has yielded mixed results. For example, in a large effectiveness trial of motivational enhancement therapy for Spanish-speaking patients seeking treatment for substance use, Carroll et al [50] found small advantages for this treatment relative to TAU only among those in the sample seeking treatment for alcohol problems. […]

In November 2020, the state of Oregon passed Measure 109 to legalize psilocybin for people age 21 and older. Proponents of psilocybin legalization in Oregon promote its use for medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. The new law will make psilocybin more accessible to people who need them clinically. The average half-life of psilocybin ranges […]

If you need to avoid alcohol, be sure you check all of your food and medicine labels to be sure they don’t contain alcohol. It is important to tell your doctor about all the medications you use, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor. […]

The 12 traditions of AA serve as the foundation of the organization. Because of these, members are able to rest assured that AA is a safe place to share their experiences and get support for their alcohol use disorder (AUD). AA was originally founded on the principles of the Oxford Group, a Christian-based self-help group. […]

For street use, ecstasy is made illegally in labs with many ingredients, including isosafrole, amphetamine, and caffeine. Note that if a drug is sold as “ecstasy,” it still may not have any MDMA at all. Addictive ingredients are used to make ecstasy, causing you to crave more. It was first made by German scientists in […]