Approximately 9 million Americans (4 percent of adults in the U.S.) use prescription sleep aids to get a good night’s rest.1 But are these drugs safe? In 2019, following 20 reported deaths and 46 serious injuries caused by these drugs, the FDA mandated that certain sleep aid drugs include black-box warnings, which call attention to […]
Category: Substance Abuse
More Americans are Driving Stoned
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more nighttime weekend drivers in America are testing positive for THC and the number of people driving high has increased from 8.6 percent in 2007 to 12.6 percent in 2014.1
Why Are Opioids Addictive?
Why are opioids addictive?Opioids are highly addictive because they flood the brain with endorphins and dopamine, which produce feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and euphoria. The “high” is so powerful and unlike any natural rush of endorphins and dopamine that the only way a person can experience those feelings again is by using opioids. There are […]
Denver is First U.S. City to Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms
In a close vote, Denver became the first U.S. city to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms, or simply “shrooms.” Although mushrooms are not legal in Denver, the ordinance prohibits the prosecution or arrest of adults over the age of 21 who possess them.1 The ordinance also allows adults to grow […]
Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence: A Toxic Duo
Domestic violence occurs in several different ways and can have negative consequences to both the victim and the abuser. Many victims of domestic violence also struggle with substance abuse issues and addiction, which can complicate their ability and willingness to get help.
Hemp is No Longer a Controlled Substance in Texas
Last Friday, April 5, the Texas Department of State Health Services removed hemp from its list of controlled substances.1 In Texas, it is no longer a Schedule I drug alongside others like heroin, cocaine, and LSD. With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the federal government also removed hemp from its list of controlled […]
Texas Overdose Deaths Have Nearly Tripled in the Last 18 Years
The entire U.S. is facing an ongoing opioid crisis, and Texas is no exception. Although the Lone Star State isn’t typically known for being a hotspot for opioid overdoses, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prove the face of the substance abuse problem in Texas is changing.
Texas Opioid Overdoses are Increasing
According to recent news reports from Houston Public Media, opioid overdose deaths in Texas have been rising at a rate of about ten percent a year since 2014.1 As other states across the U.S. also grapple with increasing opioid overdose deaths, the need for high-quality addiction treatment continues to be high. Surprisingly, new data released […]
An In-Depth Overview of Drug Use and Co-Occurring Disorders
About 7.9 million adults in the United States suffered from co-occurring disorders in 2014, according to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health publDrug Use and Co-Occurring Disorders: Most Common Co-Occurring Disorders with Addictionished by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.1 Unfortunately, since co-occurring disorders are often very complex, many individuals […]
America Faces Record Number of Overdose Deaths in 2017
New estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that drug overdoses killed about 72,000 Americans in 2017, with synthetic opioids being a primary factor for the drastic increase.1 To compare, in 2016, drug overdoses killed 63,632 Americans. 2