Thousands of troops become military veterans within their communities every year. These military personnel return to their day-to-day lives. As stated by the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 1.5 million veterans aged 17 or older (6.6 percent of this population) had a substance use disorder in the past year. Addiction and PTSD…
Many veterans are struggling with substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder in the United States. Traumatic events such as combat exposure and multiple deployments can trigger drug or alcohol use. It can also damage one’s mental health after returning home. As a result, PTSD and addiction can occur. PTSD and addiction should not be taken…
A Guide for Any Child of an Addict “25% of American children live with a parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. These children may have more responsibilities or may have different priorities in life due to the toxic environment that they are in.” Addiction affects many Americans. It’s no surprise that many children…
“Over 72,000 Americans died from a drug-related overdose in 2017. Overdoses caused by illicit drugs and prescription drugs increased two-folds within the last decade.” Overdose rates are continuing to climb in America. More and more Americans are losing their lives to both prescription drugs and illicit drugs. To raise awareness for this issue,…
What is Fentanyl? To put it simply, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug. What that means is that, like morphine, it is produced in labs, considered a “downer,” and works by affecting the pain receptors in the brain so as to reduce feelings and perception of pain. Also like morphine, fentanyl was produced as a…
Opioids have been taking over the country and killing at alarmingly increasing rates. While the opioid crisis has shocked the nation, there are drugs that haven’t caused as many deaths but can still be just as deadly. Even though legislation and discussions surrounding the issue of drugs have become more common but more frequently linked…
The Opioid Crisis Opioids and opiates are drugs that are made from the opium poppy plant, and that act as “downers”. The substances in the drug act directly in opioid receptors of the brain, which are popularly referred to as “pleasure receptors”. Legal, lab-produced versions of these drugs are usually prescribed for pain management. These…
What is Vaping? Vaping is a popularized term for smoking e-cigarettes, which can also be referred to as “juuling”. E-cigarettes work by producing an aerosol as it heats up a specific liquid made for it. This liquid can contain many different substances, most commonly nicotine, chemicals used for the aerosol, and fragrances that can be…
What does “enable” mean? The definition I think applies here, according to Merriam-Webster, is “to make possible, practical, or easy” (emphasis mine). Enabling looks a lot like love, probably because it’s done through love. We do what we can to make the way “easier” for our loved ones, especially those who we believe need a…
Getting Sober in Jail Getting sober in jail may be the best thing that can happen for someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol. Many convicts committed crimes while under the influence or committed crimes due to a need to get drugs or alcohol. These individuals may not have committed a crime if they…