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A glass of alcohol beside colorful tablets resembling MDMA on a dark wooden surface, illustrating the dangers of mixing Molly and alcohol.
alcohol abuse

Molly and Alcohol: The Hidden Dangers of “Party” Polysubstance Use

“Molly” is a common street name for MDMA, a synthetic drug that acts as both a stimulant and a mild hallucinogen. People often think of it as a fun “club drug” that boosts energy, empathy, and sensory perception, especially at concerts, raves, and parties.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), MDMA increases levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain. That chemical flood can create a powerful rush of pleasure—along with serious strain on the body and brain.

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A glass of alcohol beside a dish of white powder on a wooden surface, symbolizing the risks of mixing ketamine and alcohol.
Addiction

Ketamine and Alcohol: Why Mixing Depressants Can Turn Dangerous Fast

Ketamine is showing up in more places than the club scene. It is still used as an anesthetic, is sometimes prescribed for pain, and in carefully controlled settings it can be part of treatment-resistant depression care. At the same time, alcohol remains one of the most widely used—and misused—substances in the world. Putting the two together may feel common or even casual, but it is anything but safe.

Both ketamine and alcohol act on the central nervous system (CNS). Together they can sharply change breathing, heart function, judgment, and memory in ways that are hard to predict and even harder to reverse once things go wrong. Many people who mix them do not realize how quickly a “good night out” or a “booster” for ketamine therapy can turn into a medical emergency.

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Close-up image of cannabis jars, a rolled joint, and an ADHD diagnosis form on a desk, representing the connection between weed and ADHD symptoms.
Addiction

Weed and ADHD: Why Cannabis Often Makes Symptoms Worse

If you live with ADHD, you may have wondered whether smoking weed will calm your mind or help you focus. Many people even notice that “pot makes my ADHD worse” but aren’t sure why. This guide explains how weed and ADHD interact in the brain, how cannabis affects mental health and addiction risk, and what to do if your use is starting to cause problems.

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A man sitting alone with alcohol and drug paraphernalia, reflecting the emotional struggle associated with schizophrenia and substance use.
Addiction

Schizophrenia and Substance Use: How Addiction and Mental Health Intersect

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness, and substance use disorders are serious illnesses too. When they show up together, daily life can unravel quickly. Many families wonder whether drugs can “cause” schizophrenia, or if a loved one is using substances to cope with confusing thoughts, voices, or paranoia. The reality is that schizophrenia and substance use influence one another in complex ways. This guide explains what schizophrenia is, how drugs and alcohol affect the illness, what we know about schizophrenia from drug use, and how integrated treatment at Nova Recovery Center can help.

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Young woman with two hands visible holding a cannabis joint and pressing her temple while experiencing anxiety at home.
Addiction

Pot, Panic, and Anxiety: How Weed Affects Mental Health

Many people reach for cannabis when they feel tense, wired, or overwhelmed. For some, it seems to take the edge off. For others, marijuana and anxiety quickly become tangled together. Instead of relaxing, they notice racing thoughts, a pounding heart, and a sense that something is terribly wrong.

At Nova Recovery Center, we hear from people who started using pot to sleep, eat, or cope with stress but now feel trapped in a cycle of weed and anxiety. Some describe weed and panic attacks that come out of nowhere; others talk about an intense fear of dying while high, convinced they are having a heart attack or losing their mind. This guide explains why that happens, what an anxiety attack on weed looks like, and how integrated addiction and mental health treatment can help you regain control.

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Close-up image showing cannabis buds beside a glass of alcohol, illustrating the comparison of weed or alcohol and their impact on mental health and addiction.
Addiction

Is Weed or Alcohol Worse for Addiction and Mental Health?

People often ask whether weed or alcohol is worse. Some see cannabis as “natural” and harmless. Others point to how common drinking is and wonder which substance does more damage. When you look closely at addiction and mental health, the answer isn’t simple. Both weed and alcohol can harm the brain, fuel mental health struggles, and derail daily life—especially when they’re used to cope with stress, trauma, or existing psychiatric conditions.

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