There is significant evidence to demonstrate that our childhood experiences stay with us—for good or for ill—throughout our lives. When those experiences are traumatic, they can increase the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder later in life. Those traumatic happenings are known as adverse childhood experiences or ACEs. And their impact on your life […]
What to do if You or a Loved One is Addicted to Xanax Xanax (generic name: alprazolam) is the most commonly prescribed psychiatric drug in the United States. That’s a testament to the drug’s effectiveness, of course. Unfortunately, this effectiveness can come at a cost: the risk of abuse and addiction. It is important to
It can be easy to think about substance abuse as though it is always a single thing. A person drinks too much or they have too many prescriptions for dangerous painkillers or they take a specific drug they buy on the street. We think of the drunk or the pill popper or the person with
If you have ever had a persistent cough or have experienced ongoing pain, it is likely that you have taken codeine. While it is a prescription drug and therefore limited in its distribution, codeine is frequently used as a pain reliever and can be found in prescription cough suppressants. Codeine is an opiate—putting it in
Children and adults who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often treated with Ritalin. The stimulant—also known as methylphenidate—is prescribed to improve an individual’s ability to stay focused on a given task for a longer period of time. By and large, the drug is effective and is, in general, considered safe for