Substance use disorder

Polysubstance use is taking two or more drugs simultaneously or within a short period. Combined drug use may include prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or alcohol. Dangers of polysubstance use include an increased chance of falls, risky behavior, physical or mental harm, or overdose, all of which may result in death. The Centers for Disease Control […]

Millions of people worldwide misuse drugs, alcohol, or both, often suffering personal, professional, financial, and sometimes deadly consequences. In 2017, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported almost nineteen million American adults struggled with a substance use disorder, yet only about twelve percent received treatment1. The study also found over eight million […]

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed by doctors to treat severe chronic, post-surgical and cancer-related pain.1 Experts warn fentanyl is twice as potent as heroin and up to 100 times more potent than morphine. If used as prescribed, the drug is effective, but if misused or purchased illegally, fentanyl can be deadly. The Food and […]

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid about 50 times more potent than heroin and 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. While doctors can legally prescribe fentanyl to treat severe pain, prescription drugs are often diverted for recreational use. In some cases, fentanyl is made illegally and sold on the streets. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is […]

Simply put, there is little difference between substance abuse and physical or psychological dependence. Both substance abuse and dependency are encompassed under the diagnostic material for substance use disorder (SUD). However, there are different severities of SUD that range from mild to severe. If an individual struggles with SUD, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when […]

There is a reason that addiction is called a family disease: it affects the whole family: partners, close family members, and children.  Not to mention co-workers, friends, and neighbors. It is said that for every person with substance use disorder, another 5 people are impacted by their illness.Overtime the consequences of addiction pile up: job […]

Some life experiences may be traumatic. Even if those traumatic events are one-offs or time-limited — such as an adverse childhood experience, a car accident, sexual assault, natural disasters, violence, or even a pandemic — the person directly experiencing the event may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD may occur when a person has experienced a significant traumatic […]

Trauma isn’t rare. According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience at least one trauma in their lives. Women are more likely to experience sexual assault and child sexual abuse. Men are more likely to experience accidents, physical assault, combat, disaster, or to witness death […]