Prescription Drugs Don’t Make the Grade

three prescription pill bottles tipped over with three different types of prescription pills spilling out into a pile

College is a time for young people to start working towards their future. Picking a major is just one of the steps that college students make. Every decision that students make during this time has an impact on their future. They must learn to balance a large and challenging load of classes, extracurricular activities, athletics,

Could I Be A Drug Addict?

closeup of a young man with his hand folded in front of his face as he contemplated whether he is a drug addict

Sometimes the hardest thing for addicts to do is to admit that they have a problem. It seems that everyone around the addict sees the destruction that they are causing to themselves, yet the addict doesn’t. Oftentimes, the addict is in denial about his or her drug use. Time and time again, addicts get into

Elderly at Risk for Chronic Alcohol Abuse

an elderly man seated at a kitchen table pouring himself a drink of hard liquor

According to Dr. Sally Rigler of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, one-third of elderly alcoholic persons develop their problem with alcohol in later life while the other two-thirds have had problems with alcohol for the majority of their lives. Alcohol has adverse effects on the body, which become more severe as the alcoholic

Spice: Synthetic Marijuana

picture of small amount of synthetic marijuana called spice

Spice: Synthetic Marijuana Young adults are adding spice to their lives and it is a deadly ingredient. Spice, also referred to as K2, is a synthetic form of marijuana. It is advertised as a safe, legal alternative to marijuana, but that is far from true. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, spice is

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

a partial image of a pregnant woman with her hands on her stomach standing on a bridge in autumn illustrating the dangers of being pregnant and addicted to opiates and importance of neonatal abstinence

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of pregnant mothers using opiates has increased from 1.19 to 5.63 for every 1,000 births per year. As the number of expectant mothers using opiates rises, so does the number of infants born with opiate dependence or Neonatal Abstinence

Xanax Addiction: A Growing Epidemic

xanax pill bottles as illustration of prescription drug addiction

Xanax, a benzodiazepine, is being abused more and more frequently in today’s society. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the estimated number of emergency room visits involving nonmedical use of benzodiazepines increased 89 percent nationwide between 2004 and 2008 and continues to rise. The effects of Xanax abuse can cause severe

Marijuana Abuse: Stepping Stone to Addiction

an artists rendering of a marijuana leaf illustrating that marijuana use often serves as a gateway experience to drug addiction

From the white picket fences of suburban America to the streets of urban jungles, marijuana is everywhere. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the United States. Since marijuana is so easily accessible, one can find a soccer mom enjoying fresh pot brownies or an

5 Self-Esteem Building Skills Taught in Drug Rehab

a counselor leading a group session about self esteem

Webster’s Dictionary defines self-esteem as confidence and satisfaction with oneself. Drug and alcohol addiction causes many addicts to lose their self-esteem through poor choices and judgment. After completing drug rehab, addicts begin to feel better about themselves and, with time and consistency in behavior, self-esteem grows. Self-Esteem Self-esteem is learned and encouraged in childhood through