Jessica

People who have a substance use disorder often find that overcoming it is more challenging than they expected. They may feel that addiction is a myth and they can quit any time they want or that they are an exception to the rule. This can also occur with behavioral addictions involving activities such as eating, sex, gambling, […]

If you’re taking opioids for chronic pain, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using the medication. Opiate drugs are extremely habit-forming; tolerance, physical dependence, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms are all possible. As a result, there is a high potential for misuse and addiction, even when use begins with a prescription. Prescription opioids include: Codeine Demerol

Knowing what to say to a friend or loved with a drug addiction can be challenging. But, if you’re like most people, you probably mean well but don’t realize that some comments and statements cause more harm than good. What’s more, people struggling with drug addiction often are sensitive, emotional, and insecure about their situation, especially in

Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is processed from morphine, which comes from the seedpod of the opium Asian poppy plant. Its use is a serious problem in the United States. Recent studies suggest a shift from injecting heroin to snorting or smoking because of increased purity and the misconception that these forms of use will not lead

In the past, addiction was thought of as resulting from the ingestion of an “addictive” substance, such as heroin or pain killers. These substances were considered to have almost magical powers, rendering the user powerless over their consumption, regardless of context and circumstances such as the stress being experienced by the user.  The DSM-IV definition of substance dependence focused on the physiological effects

One of the most common reasons Americans visit their doctors is to get help with pain relief. Pain causes distress and can even be debilitating. Doctors sometimes prescribe opioid pain relievers to their patients who are in pain. While these drugs can provide much-needed relief, they also have the potential for misuse and addiction. How

If you’re in recovery from a substance use disorder, you already know how much work it took to get there, and you’ll want to do everything possible to avoid having a relapse. It may seem that relapse is the last thing that could happen to you, but the truth is they are very common for

Suboxone is a prescription medication used to treat opioid addiction. When used as directed, it relieves the symptoms of opioid withdrawal without getting you high. Suboxone also reduces opioid cravings, which goes a long way toward preventing relapse. Many recovering addicts take it for months, or even years, after they stop getting high.  While it doesn’t

Substance abuse disorder—which is referred to as substance use disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)—is a chronic and complex disorder involving the continued use of drugs or alcohol (substances) despite significant substance-related problems. Quitting is not a matter of willpower, nor is it a simple choice. This is because

Opioids (or opiates) are a class of drugs that are either made from the opium poppy or are artificially synthesized to function like these “natural” opioids. Opioids work by binding to specific protein receptors in the brain and spinal cord, significantly diminishing the pain signals being sent to the brain and dampening the perception of pain.