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Category: Prescription

  • Teens and drugs: Drug use statistics and treatment that works

    Here are some drug use statistics: Over 80% of teens engage in some form of deviant behavior (1). Over 50% of high-school seniors admit to having used drugs (2). Only 10%-15% of the population develop drug addiction problems related to their drug use (1). The question is: If the majority of teens experiment with drug…

  • Is opiate pain medication safe for addicts? Part I

    A recent user question on VYou (see my response here) addressed the issue of prescribing addicts with opioid pain medication. Since prescription medication abuse and addiction is on the rise and getting more and more attention in the media every year, the question of whether addicts in recovery, or people who have dealt with substance…

  • More money more problems? Rich teens and drugs

    Teens raised in affluent homes display the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and drug abuse according to a recent article in Monitor on Psychology, the APA‘s monthly magazine. One of our recent posts dealt with some of the issues unique to teens and drugs. In addition to the issues we’d already mentioned, the article named…

  • Body image and medicalization: Socially relevant behavioral “addictions” beyond drug use

    We know that addiction can go beyond drug use, but are we becoming addicted to making our bodies perfect? I put “addiction” in parentheses here because I think it’s important to distinguish substance-related addictions from behavioral ones. There’s no doubt that people’s behavior can become compulsive in the same way addicts become compulsive about using,…

  • About Addiction: Alcohol, Emergency Rooms, and Prescription Drug Abuse

    This are the new links about addiction and drug abuse. Leave us your feedback! Red Bull and Alcohol The Huffington Post: Red bull is a much caffeinated energy drink and when mixed with liquor, it can diminish the awareness of drowsiness, feelings of un-coordination and intoxication. Studies show the added caffeine only makes you believe…

  • About Addiction: Prescription Medication, Anti Smoking, Alcohol, Ecstasy, and Marijuana

    We have the newest links about addiction. This week we feature info on cough medicine, prescription medication, smoking, alcohol, ecstasy, and marijuana. Let us know what you think and leave us your feedback. Cough and Prescription Medication CNN Health: The trend for kids to abuse cough medicine is either back, or never left since my…

  • Crystal meth withdrawal – It’s not like heroin, but don’t expect it to be easy

    Heroin, or opiate, withdrawal symptoms is the gold standard of addiction withdrawal. Imagine the worst flu of your life, multiply it by 1000, and then imagine knowing that taking a hit of this stuff will make it all better. Think sweats, fever, shaking, diarrhea, and vomiting. Think excruciating pain throughout as your pain sensors get…

  • The benefits of marijuana: Things are far from all bad for weed

    Marijuana can certainly be beneficial. It’s true that essentially every drug has some abuse liability. However, somewhere in the vicinity of 85% of those who try any given drug will never develop abuse or addiction problems (yes there are probably variations based on specific drugs, but that’s a good estimate).  As we all know, marijuana is a…

  • Great coverage of the prescription drug abuse problem – The oxycontin express on Vanguard

    On the way to New York city to visit my father this morning (he’s not doing so well), I saw an amazing journalistic piece on the prescription drug problem, especially as it relates to loose prescription-record keeping laws in Florida, which is apparently the reason for the five times higher rates of prescription pain medication…

  • Abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise

    A recent article in the UCLA health system magazine Vital Signs talks about the increased prevalence of prescription drug abuse. Apparently, at 20%, prescription drugs are now the most commonly abused group of substances after alcohol and marijuana. With the same prevalence among teens, this is certainly a concern. The article notes a few indicators…