It is no exaggeration to say an epidemic of heroin use has swept across Pennsylvania. Over the past few years, there have been overdoses, distribution busts, more people seeking assistance for heroin addiction, and countless families struggling to save their loved ones from the heroin plague. In one weekend, eight people in a single county…
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“When should I go to rehab?” It is a question many people who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol ask. In general, it is best to assume that if you are asking the question, it is probably the right time to seriously consider contacting a recovery center. After all, if the problem is one you…
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Since the rise of anti-depressants in the early 1990s, “depression” has become a bit of a buzzword in American culture. While you might feel “depressed” after a setback at work or even a loss by your favorite sports team, those feelings alone do not constitute clinical or major depression. Even though many people are not…
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We see it every day on TV, in music, and in the movies: glorification of addictive behaviors. How many times have the following scenarios been exalted? Young people, often underage, get “wasted” at a party and have tons of fun. Famous people use drugs and enter into one-night stands…
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The use of illegal drugs and alcohol is harmful for any woman, but more so if she’s pregnant. As the substances go through her bloodstream, they are passed on to the unborn baby through the umbilical cord and placenta. Seeking pregnancy addiction treatment for drug or alcohol abuse is not always a popular choice. However,…
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You had major surgery or experienced a painful injury. Afterward, your doctor prescribed an opiate to help you manage your discomfort. Although you were initially a little worried about taking Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycodone, OxyContin, or some other pain management drug, you decided you were being a wimp. After all, if a physician felt that the…
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Although schools pride themselves on their strict anti-drug use stance, they may be inadvertently encouraging teens to experiment with drugs. Schools with stringent suspension policies for drug infractions are not as effective at preventing future drug use as those that offer pot recovery counseling. Abstinence and Counseling More Effective Than Suspensions A study published in…
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Inhalants produce effects similar to alcohol and are created from a diverse group of substances that include volatile solvents, gases, and nitrites that are sniffed, snorted, huffed or bagged. The substances used are found in common household products such as glues, lighter fluid, cleaning fluids, and paint products. Inhalant abuse is the deliberate inhaling or…
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Processed from morphine, heroin, also called H, horse, smack, dope, and junk, is the most abused and rapidly acting opiate available. Morphine is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. Typically found in a white or brownish powder form, heroin also is found as a black sticky…
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Oxycodone, sometimes known as OxyContin, oxycodone, hillbilly heroin, oxy, OC, and kicker, is an opiate derived from morphine and is legally prescribed for pain relief. Found in the prescription drug OxyContin, it is a Schedule II narcotic analgesic, is highly addictive, and abusers usually require the help of an OxyContin treatment center to sustain a…
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