EDITORIAL STAFF
Stress Takes the Lead as a Primary Reason Why Young People Turn to Drugs and Alcohol
For years, peer pressure was recognized as the most common factor that precipitated youth drug use, particularly first-time drug use. However, a recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cited stress as now eclipsing peer pressure as the primary reason why young people experiment with mind-altering substances.
Codeine: Addictive and Potentially Dangerous
What began as a seemingly innocent cough medicine is now increasingly known for its mind-altering and addictive properties. People should understand what codeine is, and they should also know that the Food and Drug Administration changed how it monitors codeine. Codeine is addictive, evidenced by the people who’ve become hooked on it.
What Is the Scope of Synthetic Cannabinoid Abuse Today?
Synthetic cannabinoids are a relatively new drug of concern, a man-made substance similar to cannabis but made in a lab. Such drugs often produce very different effects than one might expect from cannabis, and users can rarely predict what chemicals will be in any given batch of synthetic cannabinoids.
Synthetic Drugs Increasingly a Problem for Young Americans
This article defines what synthetic drugs are, focusing on synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic opioids. The article also presents evidence showing how these substances have become increasingly popular in the 21st century, especially among young Americans in their teens and twenties.
Meth Addiction Now a Leading Cause of Drug-Related Death
Methamphetamine addiction has been a problem plaguing Americans for decades. However, it has only been in recent years that meth overdose deaths began to outstrip usual figures by alarming proportions. The spike in meth-related deaths has coincided with the addition of potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl into the drug supply, putting all people with a meth addiction in extreme danger of a lethal overdose.
Statistics on Heroin Addiction, One of America’s Longest-Lasting Addiction Nightmares
This article defines what heroin is, lists the many side effects users experience, and shows the trajectory of heroin addiction over time. Heroin is one of the longest-lasting drug problems in the country, and it is still a serious issue today.
Cocaine Experimentation Now More Lethal Than Ever
Cocaine experimentation and addiction have been a problem in the U.S. for several decades. The drug received a significant amount of media attention in the mid and late 20th century, but it has since been relegated to the background with the onset of the opioid epidemic. Unfortunately, cocaine use is still prevalent and very harmful. And today, more people are dying from using the drug than ever before.
What Is the Opioid Vaccine?
The term “opioid vaccine” has been in widespread use since at least 2019. However, many still do not understand what the medicine is or if it’s really a “vaccine” as one traditionally thinks of such types of medicine. Opioids are not infectious diseases, so how can one be vaccinated against them? Is the opioid vaccine the solution to opioid addiction? Or is it just another replacement medication?
Kratom Now Proven to Cause Fatal Overdose Risk
Initially identified and described as a herbal supplement, stories of kratom leading to fatal overdoses have recently made national news, bringing into question what risks the substance poses. Yet despite recent deaths, there is still very little regulation around kratom, as the substance is somewhat new to U.S. markets.
10 Questions to Ask Before Taking Opioid Painkillers
Patients must protect themselves from addictive medications by becoming informed on pharmaceutical drugs their doctors may try to prescribe them.