Despite increased media attention in recent years, there are still myths and misconceptions about addiction that won’t go away. These myths can have real effects on people’s lives, since they affect public opinion and public policy, not to mention they can make individuals reluctant to seek help. The following are some of the more common […]
Pharmaceutical innovations continue improving the quality and longevity of life, even when beneficial side effects of these medicines are discovered unexpectedly. Numerous medications created to treat specific illnesses have found new applications because they were found to be effective at addressing completely different problems. One example is Prazosin, a medication originally developed to treat hypertension. […]
Nearly 19 million children in the United States have at least one parent with a substance use disorder (SUD), according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics on May 12. A significant number of those children have a parent whose SUD is moderate or severe as opposed to mild, the study finds. Witnessing […]
New research has revealed problematic cardiac changes in patients with both cocaine and alcohol use disorders. This raises concerns about the effects of cocaine and alcohol use on the heart, even after treatment and abstinence. “Cocaine use is a well-established cardiovascular risk factor, further enhanced by concurrent alcohol use. However, cardiovascular risk is poorly managed […]
Men were significantly more vulnerable than women to overdose deaths involving opioid and stimulant drugs in 2020–2021, according to a new study analyzing data from across the United States. The study, published in Neuropsychopharmacology, found that men had a two to three times greater rate of overdose mortality from opioids (like fentanyl and heroin) and […]
Marijuana causes heart problems — A new study led by UC San Francisco researchers has found that chronic cannabis use, whether smoked or consumed in edible form, is associated with significant cardiovascular risks. The report, published in JAMA Cardiology, found that people who regularly used marijuana in either form had reduced blood vessel function comparable […]
Much of your addiction risk is influenced by your family history. Genes and the environment both play a significant role in how addiction is passed down in families. Research has identified many gene variations that appear to be related to substance use disorders. These aren’t “addiction genes” per se but rather they affect different aspects […]
We live in a culture where drinking is common and sometimes even expected. This can sometimes make it hard to know when our drinking is normal or excessive. We are particularly prone to misjudgment because our ideas about normal drinking are most strongly influenced by our immediate circle of friends and relatives. Unfortunately, this standard […]
The animal tranquilizer xylazine has become the latest scourge in the American addiction crisis. The substance often pushed under the names “Tranq” or “Tranq dope” is a non-opiate sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant only authorized in the United States for veterinary use, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration. Xylazine—currently not a controlled substance—“was […]
We’ve all heard someone say something like, “He’s fried his brain,” referring to someone whose drug or alcohol use has gotten out of control. If you have struggled with substance use, or someone you love has, you’ve no doubt seen changes in personality and cognition and wondered “Is this permanent?” It’s a distressing thought. So […]
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