Drug and alcohol overdose continues to be a problem, but in some cases adverse reactions to substances are not due to overuse or misuse. Recent emergency room visits have been the result of adverse reactions to the insomnia medication zolpidem, the active ingredient in the drugs Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist. A recent study
Keep ReadingBinge drinking. Alcohol poisoning. Prescription sharing. Painkiller addiction. These are all serious problems for teens and college students. Although it is unlikely that we are going to get kids to stop experimenting or partying altogether, we don’t need to encourage it. Urban Outfitters, known for supplying teens and college students with trendy and low-cost clothing,
Keep ReadingTurning to medication seems easier than exploring the issues behind a health problem. Making diet and lifestyle changes, lowering stress, cutting out bad habits and self-examining are far more difficult. Who wants to do all that work, when they can just take a pill? There aren’t catchy ads for behavioral therapy or classes that teach
Keep ReadingWhen it comes to addiction, most of us don’t think we are at risk. However even if you’re fit and health conscious, you can fall prey to addiction. A single injury can start the addiction process without you even realizing it. Injuries can lead an otherwise healthy and active individual to take painkillers to avoid
Keep ReadingThe type of drugs a teen chooses to try may have a connection to the music he or she listens to. A substance’s mention in songs can pique curiosity, and that has been the case with “sizzurp.” The term has popped up in tracks by Three Six Mafia (“Sippin On Some Syrup”) and Lil Wayne
Keep ReadingWe already know prescription painkillers can cause problems and lead to dependence and addiction. But now a new warning issued by The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has law enforcement on high alert, particularly near the Canadian border. According to the alert Canada has approved non-abuse resistant generic versions of oxycodone, and
Keep ReadingAs sports fans continue to debate the recent downfall of cycling champ Lance Armstrong amid ongoing doping allegations, other professional athletes are more aware than ever of the ramifications of taking something that could help in the moment but hurt their long-term career. Adderall is one the most buzzed about substances lately, with New York
Keep ReadingAs the abuse of legal medications leads to growing addiction rates, law enforcement is continuing with their crackdown on doctors who supply patients with painkillers illegally. The most recent instance has a Pittsburgh-area doctor at its center. In September 2012, Oliver Herndon, 40, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison. The doctor
Keep ReadingYou hear a lot about the growing problem of prescription addiction these days, but the name fentanyl rarely makes headlines. Despite its low profile, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiod stronger than morphine. Typically used to treat severe pain, this drug is often prescribed after surgery or to help those suffering from chronic pain. Another
Keep ReadingIn today’s culture, there’s a pill for everything—weight loss, high blood pressure, anxiety, migraine, depression, erectile dysfunction. Many of these medications may be a godsend for those who take them, but as we grow so accustomed to reaching into medicine cabinets, pharmaceutical companies are rushing to discover the next wonder drug that will make them
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