Substance Abuse

Disulfiram is the generic form of a prescription medication that makes drinking alcohol unpleasant. Despite its benefits in the treatment of alcoholism, disulfiram poses a risk for side effects in...

Steroids and performance-enhancing drugs are controversial topics. Steroids are categorized as Schedule III controlled substances, meaning that possession of them without a prescription is...

According to the American Cancer Society, around 90 percent of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 19. Because nicotine is highly addictive, this is a serious problem. For many young...

Staging an alcoholism intervention for a loved one is never an easy task. When dealing with someone close who is an alcoholic, family members and friends suffer many emotions, from fear to...

Neuropathy, a condition in which the peripheral nerves malfunction, is most commonly associated with diabetes. However, you can develop neuropathy due to excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol...

Vicodin (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) is an opiate medication prescribed to treat moderate-to-severe pain. Frequent or continued use of opiates can lead to physical dependence, leading to...

If you know someone who wants to quit smoking, it can be difficult to know how to offer help quitting smoking without making the situation more tense and stressful. It can be even harder if you...

No one turns to drugs or alcohol for the same reason as anyone else. But several common factors have been documented among numerous users, leading to a basic list of possible causes.

Steroids are drugs that create or imitate compounds and hormones that stimulate muscle growth and help enhance physical performance. They are often a temptation for young athletes. There are many...

According to Drugs.com, 46 percent of smokers in the United States attempt to quit each year. Only 5 percent who do so without help succeed. A.number of medications on the market can increase your...

Drug addiction is a condition characterized by dependence on medications, alcohol or legal and/or illegal substances. Your dependence on drugs can lead to substance abuse. Symptoms may include a...

People going through alcohol detoxification and withdrawal may experience a number of adverse side effects, including dangerous shifts in blood pressure. Once detox is completed, the patient...

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that almost 18 million Americans are problem drinkers; of those, nearly 8 million are alcoholics.

A recent study at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) shows a link between tobacco use and the speed at which the brain recovers from alcohol abuse. While abstaining from alcohol...

A popular theory in drug treatment is that no one gets help until he or she hits bottom. A bottom can be incarceration, physical attack or death. However, many people who have loved ones addicted...

Every year, thousands of people decide to stop smoking, but only a small percentage succeed the first time they try. There are many products on the market that claim to aid smokers in kicking the...

Alcohol prevention programs are aimed mainly at youth, as it is illegal for them to drink. Once a person becomes of age, it is difficult to prevent him from drinking. Most alcohol-abuse therapists...

Drug testing is used widely throughout America and can determine whether or not someone is hired for a job or keeps an athletic scholarship. However, according to a CDC (Centers for Disease...

A hair follicle test is a drug screening method that analyzes the cortex or inner part of the hair to reveal drugs and drug metabolites, the presence of which exposes drug use. Hair tests are...

Steroids are synthetic drugs used to treat a variety of conditions, including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and some types of anemia. An overdose of steroids, however, can have damaging...

You know smoking is harmful to your health, but you continue to smoke. The only thing actually stopping you from breaking free of your smoking addiction, however, is your mind. Meditation can help...

According to the National Council on Alcoholism, about 18 million Americans are problem drinkers. About 8 million are officially alcoholics. It's an epidemic so vast that more than half of adults...

Legal drugs are taken for their mind-altering effects and are legal for both possession and use. Included in this class are alcohol and tobacco, prescription and over-the-counter (OTC)...

Substance use disorders are a common problem among teens and adults in the United States. According to CDC.gov, approximately 8.3 percent of people 12 years of age or older use illegal drugs each...

Drugs created from the cannabis plant are known by a number of different names, including hashish, marijuana, weed, pot and reefer. Whatever the name, however, the side effects of smoking it...

Oxycodone is a narcotic pain reliever in the opiate class of medications. When combined with acetaminophen, oxycodone is marketed under brand names such as Percocet or Endocet and, when combined...

Prescription drugs come in all sizes, colors and shapes. What if you find a pill you can't identify? Years ago, unknown Rx drugs would have been difficult to identify without consulting a...

Subutex is a prescription medication that comes in tablet form. It is a medicine that is used for the treatment of opioid addiction and dependence. This medication is intended to be used alongside...

Many people start smoking cigarettes in their youth, because it seemed like the cool or popular thing to do at the time. Unfortunately, soon after you have begun smoking, you realize that it is...

Ecstasy pills are synthetic drugs that act as a stimulant and make a user feel more energetic and euphoric, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Ecstasy pills also increases sensitivity...

Smoking is no longer socially acceptable. And smoking has a huge negative impact on your health. Most people know this, but quitting isn't easy. It takes willpower, the need and desire to...

Teenage prescription drug abuse is a serious problem in the United States, according to The Partnership for a Drug Free America. Many teens mistakenly think these drugs are safe because they have...

Low dose naltrexone is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and to block the pleasurable effects of narcotics and alcohol in order to help recovered addicts...

Drug detoxification, or detox for short, is the process by which the body clears itself of mind-altering substances. There are many options for detoxifying from drugs, one of which is through an...

Chain-smoking can adversely affect your health. It can even negatively affect your financial situation, as your cravings drive you to keep spending money on cigarettes. Although nicotine...

If you have smoked for many years it is quite the commitment to decide to quit. It is definitely tougher for some than for others. Most people that smoke have been doing so since they were a...

Alcoholism is devastating not only to the alcoholic and his body but also to loved ones. Many families have been torn apart because of alcoholism. Watching carefully for the signs of alcoholism...

The best time to prevent drug, alcohol or tobacco use is before it starts. There are a number of programs that focus on keeping young individuals healthy and sober. By focusing on prevention...

Heroin users are at high risk for addiction, and chronic use of this drug is associated with serious health conditions. Although heroin addiction can be very difficult to break, drug treatment...

Aside from marijuana, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused types of drugs, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Abuse can result in addiction, long-term damage to...

Smoking cigarettes once was accepted as part of a trendy lifestyle. However, with the research and findings of the past few decades, it's become well-known that the adverse effects of smoking are...

Inhalants are devices that contain substances with chemical vapors. The vapors can be breathed in, which can result in some psychoactive results that can alter the mind. There are many kinds of...

Smoking and alcohol abuse can cause a plethora of negative mental and physical effects. Some effects common to both substances include increased cancer and heart disease risk, as well as...

Drug abuse is the misuse of mind-altering substances with the intention of altering consciousness. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be abused in the same manner as illegal drugs and...

After your release from a drug rehabilitation center, you may be nervous about what to do next. There are no guarantees that you will stay sober if you don't continue your efforts at home. Many...

Special programs are designed specifically for women who are substance abusers. These programs can help them to recover and re-establish social skills, communication skills and positive behaviors...

Crack cocaine is a synthetic form of cocaine that has become popular since the 1980s amongst drug users. Part of its popularity is because it is relatively inexpensive and its effects are almost...

Too much alcohol consumption is indicated by depression, loss of friends, arrest for driving under the influence, more accidents and poor work performance. Alcoholism can caused by many reasons...

According to a 2007 Office of Applied Studies report released by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, "one third of adolescents aged 12 to 17 drank alcohol in the...

Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine and is commonly used to treat addiction to other opiates including heroin. Methadone can cause very serious side effects and should be...