Meth and mental health – the most worrying cause of dual diagnosis

Meth and mental health – the most worrying cause of dual diagnosis

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On a bright sunny Friday morning, 24-year-old Jenny Lewis walked into a needle exchange program in Los Angeles. Seeking help for an addiction to meth and heroin, she had all the traits of a person ravaged by drugs. Arms disfigured by needle marks, sore wounds filled with pus, and a puffed face with scabs all over, she looked much older than her age.

After surviving a near overdose death a few days ago, Lewis approached a needle exchange program saying that she was tired and exhausted of going through the vicious circle of making money and doing drugs every single day. A near-death experience had finally put some sense in her and now she wanted to overcome her addiction and live a clean, sober life. Read more

Kristin Cavallari talks about late brother’s struggle with addiction

Kristin Cavallari talks about late brother’s struggle with addiction

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With nearly 8.2 million people suffering from co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse, dual diagnosis is emerging as a common health threat in the United States. It can affect anyone, irrespective of their race, gender and social status. In recent months, many celebrities have come forward to reveal about their mental and substance use disorders. Now, American television personality Kristin Cavallari disclosed that her brother Michael, who died of hypothermia after a car crash in 2015, had substance use disorder (SUD). Read more

Utah firm to study effects of cannabidiol on pain and anxiety

Utah firm to study effects of cannabidiol on pain and anxiety

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Cannabidiol or CBD, one of the most active components in medical marijuana, is a chemical compound found naturally in many species of the cannabis plant. Its medicinal properties have intrigued people for a long time and has been used for centuries as a supplement to induce sleep, reduce pain and relieve anxiety. Now, Endo-C, a Springville-based research company, has started a study on CBD’s effects on pain and anxiety.

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Teens struggling with addiction need their own school

Teens struggling with addiction need their own school

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Drug addiction has affected the lives of scores of families across the United States. Many users, who have taken steps to turn things around and recover from addiction, struggle on a daily basis just to stay clean. If it is tough for them, it is heart-breaking for their family members too, who have to watch them suffer and keep hoping to make a difference. The situation is even worse in families where adolescents fall into the trap of drug addiction. Read more

Understanding the vicious link between depression and opioid abuse

Understanding the vicious link between depression and opioid abuse

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Opioids are generally prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. They include drugs like oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine and fentanyl, as well as illicit substances like heroin. These medications trigger a range of pleasurable effects by stimulating certain regions of the brain involved with the reward system.

Unfortunately, opioids work on patients by masking the pain and not by eradicating the problem from the root. Though they may succeed in temporarily uplifting a person’s mood, they increase the risk of developing depression. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in a 2016 survey, an estimated 11.8 million people misused opioids in the past year, with approximately 2.1 million people suffering from an opioid use disorder (OUD). Read more