Tag: Heroin

6 Health Risks of Prolonged Substance Use Disorder

Rhiannon McKinnon | Posted on October 19, 2022 |

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is characterized by addiction or the uncontrolled use of a substance despite its negative effects. Prolonged Substance Use Disorder can result in a host of complications ranging from behavioral issues to serious diseases. Entire books have been written about the harmful effects and damage that result from severe addiction. The list could truly be endless.

So we’ve selected a few conditions that arise from long-term substance abuse to discuss. Health risks like cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, respiratory/lung disease, and mental disorders are the most common and/or dangerous conditions that contribute to chronic addiction. In most cases, these health risks are permanent, life-long struggles that individuals must be treated for alongside addiction recovery.

5 Most Addictive Drugs

Rhiannon McKinnon | Posted on September 21, 2022 |

Addiction comes in many forms and levels of severity so let’s discuss the top 5 most addictive drugs, their traits, and their characteristics.

Heroin: An Element of Death

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on July 13, 2022 |

Heroin is a poison that is procured from morphine. It was originally created in 1874 by the pharmacist C. R. Alder Wright and was used to help ease relief for those who are in pain or had difficulty sleeping. Heroin is classified as an opiate, which means it may have effects similar to morphine or codeine because it contains molecules that bind to molecules found on cells throughout the body called opioid receptors, which can create feelings of pleasure and relaxation

The Invisible Dangers of Fentanyl-Laced Drugs: Heroin

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on June 3, 2022 |

Heroin has been the most popular illicit opioid for recreational use for decades, but fentanyl is relatively new in illicit markets, and it has made a huge impact in the last few years. You may already be aware that heroin overdoses and deaths are on the rise around the country, but that only tells part of the […]

Movie Review: “6 Balloons”

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on January 20, 2020 |

Based on the way this movie opens, you wouldn’t expect to be watching a movie about heroin addiction, but what you get is something much different. As the story begins to unfold, you realize that Katie (Abbi Jacobson), is a witty control freak who leads a successful, middle-class life, but she is also plagued by […]

How Much Money Do Americans Spend on Illegal Drugs?

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on November 7, 2019 |

The overall impact of illegal drugs and substance abuse on American society is massive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdose deaths have risen from 16,849 in 1999 to 70,237 in 2017.1 In terms of finances, the numbers are just as grim.

Why Are Opioids Addictive?

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on May 27, 2019 |

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 […]

Sober at 20

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on March 27, 2019 |

Gabe grew up in McKinney, Texas and was raised in a very conservative home. He was homeschooled up until high school and always felt like he was at odds with the beliefs and ideas he was taught at home. He and his mother also had a strained relationship and he sensed a power struggle […]

Scheduling and Drug Classification Charts: Making Sense of Drugs

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on March 18, 2019 |

Drug classification and scheduling systems are helpful ways for people of all backgrounds and professions to clearly distinguish the potential dangers of various drugs and prescription medications. But for those who don’t understand the classification system, it may just seem like a bunch of legal jargon and nonsense.

Texas Overdose Deaths Have Nearly Tripled in the Last 18 Years

Shehan Karunaratne | Posted on March 13, 2019 |

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.