Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has become a deadly public health concern in recent years due to its high abuse potential and potency. While fentanyl can be an effective pain reliever for patients with severe or chronic pain, it can also be deadly if misused or abused. Let’s discuss various fentanyl side effects and treatment…
Heroin is a highly addictive illegal drug that can have severe consequences on the body, mind, and social life of its users. It’s a derivative of opium, a naturally occurring substance obtained from the poppy plant. This drug creates a strong sense of euphoria and relaxation when it enters the bloodstream. However, it can also…
Opiates are widely used for pain management and relief. However, with the high risk of addiction that comes along with usage, it’s important to understand the impact that these drugs can have. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the misuse and abuse of prescription opiates, which has led to numerous fatalities.…
Cigarettes are available in grocery stores, gas stations, and bodegas all across the US and yet nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. It’s as addictive as cocaine and heroin and typically even harder to quit than both of those drugs. Fortunately, nicotine and tobacco addiction treatment is a safe and…
The numbers of drug overdose deaths go up every year. There are countless organizations and programs, both government and private, devoted to stemming the tide of addiction, and though some years see a shallower growth curve than others, the lines on the addiction and overdose graphs are still treading upward. Recent overdose death numbers for…
Since people first discovered the euphoric effects of opium, derived from a species of poppy, opiates have been used both medicinally and recreationally. From opium comes morphine, codeine, and heroin. Other drugs that mimic opiates but are even more potent include oxycodone and fentanyl. These are synthesized in laboratories and referred to as opioids, which…
Cocaine, in either its powdered form or as crack, is abused by more than five million teens and adults annually in the US. The leaves of the coca plant, from which cocaine is derived, have been used since 3,000 BCE. Originally the ancient Incas chewed coca leaves to increase breathing and heart rate and, thus,…
What are bath salts? The synthetic form of cathinone, which in its natural form is derived from the khat (Catha) plant native to southern Africa, is known colloquially by the name bath salts. This lab-synthesized stimulant, much more potent than the original, is becoming increasingly common along with other so-called designer drugs. This addictive and…
What is an opioid? Opioid is a term that is used to refer to opiates, which are drugs derived from the opium poppy, and opioids, synthetic drugs that emulate opiates in their effects. Using this umbrella definition for opioid, numerous drugs can be called opioids. All of them are addictive and can be highly dangerous.…
Hydrocodone vs. oxycodone, or, to use their commercial brand names, Vicodin vs. Percocet, is in some ways a scientific hair-splitting if you consider how highly addictive both of these semi-synthetic opioid painkillers can be. But, in truth, the differences can be meaningful when doctors choose which one to prescribe. Both of these powerful pain relievers…