Drug Addiction

Ketamine commonly goes by the street name “Special K.” The drug has no odor or color. It can cause hallucinations and temporarily wipe out a person’s memory. The effects of DMT include intense auditory and visual hallucinations, an altered sense of time, and depersonalization. These drugs are considered dangerous because people can harm themselves or […]

While ecstasy was initially used primarily in nightclubs and raves, its use has now spread to a wider range of populations. According to a 2021 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 0.8% of the U.S. population over the age of 12 reported using ecstasy in the previous 12 months. The chemical name for […]

The experience may include hallucinations, though usually the flashbacks are visual disturbances such as seeing false motion, trails attached to moving objects, or bright or colored flashes. The condition can be persistent and, in some cases, remains for years after the individual has stopped using the drug. The drugs can induce a distorted sense of […]

The effects of these substances can impair their mental development and increase the likelihood of long-term health problems or diseases. The best type of treatment for teen drug use and abuse is prevention. Education and honest communication go a long way in helping teenagers learn about the risks of drugs and alcohol. Caregivers need to […]

Cases of cardiotoxicity in humans have been documented due to toad poisoning. It’s also common for small children to handle and try to lick a toad, not understanding the danger or general icky-ness of the act. Toad toxins are highly poisonous to cats and dogs, and many have been killed after grabbing the toads with […]

You can recover from heroin use disorder when you receive the right treatment. According to Connors, using therapies that help reprogram negative core beliefs at the heart of substance use disorder can be very helpful. The nasal spray form of naloxone allows you and nonmedical caregivers to administer it. Your susceptibility to substance use disorder […]

Though known today mainly as a recreational drug, ecstasy has been used off-label in medical contexts. Ecstasy was explored as a therapeutic drug in the 1970s, as some psychotherapists believed it opened people up and enhanced their potential for empathy and understanding of one another. Unlike other recreational drugs such as cocaine and nicotine, which […]

An important future direction will be to expand the evidence-base for the treatment of older adults. This could include new clinical trials with less restrictive inclusion criteria, use of electronic medical records and observational studies, and simulations, as well as a combination of all these approaches (Blanco et al., 2017). Societal norms tend to reinforce […]

These trends suggest that much of the historical difference in the prevalence of both substance use and SUDs may have been attributable to social and cultural factors and not biological sex differences. Nonetheless, a wide array of differences have been identified that suggest that sexual dimorphisms–including, but not exclusively related to gonadal hormones–can impact the […]

Substance abuse counselors are required to be licensed to practice legally. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and observe experienced professionals within the field. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about a more specific career path. SAMHSA’s updated Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit provides guidance to a wide range of individuals on preventing […]