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April 8, 2020
08 Apr 2020

Alcohol Tolerance

You probably know someone who’s a “lightweight” and someone who’s a “heavyweight” when it comes to drinking. However, the idea of alcohol tolerance isn’t generally all that well understood. Therefore, it’s helpful to get a bit more info as to why some people can seem to handle more drinks than others…

Alcohol Tolerance: Watch Your Limit

What influences tolerance

Alcohol tolerance can be influenced by a couple of things. Some people are naturally able to drink more than others can before reaching their limit. While the exact reasoning isn’t well known yet, it appears that these people have some kind of “inherent” tolerance. Interestingly, these people tend to also develop alcohol problems more frequently.

For others, it comes down to how frequently they drink. The more they drink, the more their brain becomes used to the experience. Eventually, the brain develops a way to lessen the felt impact of the alcohol, making it appear like it’s not really doing much.

Tolerance vs dependence

Having an alcohol tolerance doesn’t mean one also has a dependency. After all, it could just be that their genes that lead to their ability to drink more heavily without the same effect. Still, if one isn’t careful, you could find yourself developing a dependency.

Just because they don’t “feel” the alcohol as strongly doesn’t make it safer. Nor does this mean they should drink more than is standard. A person with a high tolerance can still experience alcohol poisoning and other negative health consequences from drinking too much.

Finding balance

Alcohol tolerance can both rise and lower. It mainly depends on a person’s drinking habits. If you take a break from drinking for a while, then you might notice that it doesn’t take nearly as many drinks to reach the same result. But, if you drink a lot, you might find your tolerance rising.

A good comparison to make is to bike riding. If you haven’t rode for a while, then it’ll take you a moment to get back to it. But, it’ll be easier than your first time. This same kind of idea applies here. You might not drink as much to reach the same result, but it’s worth accepting that this isn’t a bad thing by any means.

in Drinking Dangers, Drinking Safety /by /#permalink
February 27, 2020
27 Feb 2020

Opioid History

The current opioid crisis has left many wondering how exactly something like this happened. In order to better understand the crisis as it stands today, it helps to make sense of opioid history. Seeing how the drugs have changed can show us how they got to this point…

Opioid History: Track A Crisis

Opium trades

Opioid history really begins with natural opioids. Perhaps the best-known of these is opium. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians used opium for pain treatment, as did many in early Europe. Even those like Hippocrates saw opium as a miracle pain killer.

Eventually, the demand for opium would get so high than nations would begin trading in it heavily. The British especially saw opium trading into China as a way to make a profit, despite the Chinese ban on the drug. These opium disputes would be the cause of not one, but two wars between the countries.

Rise of synthetics

While opium remained popular for some time, eventually the next step of opioid history would take place. Morphine, invented in 1804 from opium, really started the modern medical drug industry. Many people saw morphine as a “cure all” drug which could get rid of anything bothering them.

Over time, this would lead to the development of synthetic opioids. Drug companies marketed these new pills as life changers with no real downside. However, while people may not have realized it yet, they would soon. The reality was these drugs were very addictive, and could lead to a whole host of health issues. 

Modern problems

Seeing the effects these drugs had lead many countries to heavily regulated them. The U.S. was the same, making non-medical usage illegal in 1914. For a long time, people in the U.S. opposed any opioids unless they were a last-resort by a doctor. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the original restrictions were relaxed. 

This then goes into the current phase of opioid history. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, many drug companies pushed for opioids again, claiming their new ones weren’t addictive. This lead to a rush of prescriptions, and in turn, a huge increase in addiction which is still seen today. 

in Drug Addiction, Prescription Pill DUI /by /#permalink
February 20, 2020
20 Feb 2020

High-Functioning Alcoholism

Usually, the signs of alcoholism can be easy to spot. However, those with high-functioning alcoholism don’t fit the stereotypes most people think of. Still, knowing the signs of this kind of alcohol abuse can help you or those you know get the help they might need…

High-Functioning Alcoholism: The Signs

Constant denial

One of the signs of high-functioning alcoholism is constant denial. The thing is, someone dealing with this kind of addiction won’t appear to be struggling. They might be as productive or responsible as they always were. As a result, if anyone brings up their drinking, then they might be quick to deny any problems.

Others might try and joke about it all the time. It might seem funny at first, but if it happens every time they drink, then it could indicate a bigger problem below the surface. No matter how responsible someone seems to be, heavy drinking will catch up with them sooner rather than later.

Drinking all the time

Another sign of high-functioning alcoholism is constant drinking. Now, that might seem obvious at first. Still, remember that this isn’t like other kinds of constant drinking. Someone struggling with this sort of abuse won’t just be drinking all day and nothing else.

Rather, they’ll try and find ways to have a steady stream of drinks in the day. They might have one when they wake up, at lunch and dinner, and even in-between. They could even try and hide this drinking, doing it in secret or with something like a flask. If asked about it, they might get confrontational and try to make you drop it.

Finding help

While high-functioning alcoholism can be dangerous, there is help available. In fact, the same kind of help for other addictions applies here as well. The toughest issues, though, is having either yourself or the person you know confront and accept the fact that they have an addiction.

It can be helpful to have a sit down with your friends, and either listen to their concerns, or tell your friend about the concerns you all have. Sometimes, that can help them realize the true nature of their habits. This can make it easier for them to then meet with a doctor, and get a treatment plan. 

in alcoholism, Drinking Dangers /by /#permalink
February 12, 2020
12 Feb 2020

Healthy Liver: Drinking Habits

While plenty of people like to drink, too much can take a toll on the body. One area in particular that both drinking and pill abuse can hurt is the liver. A healthy liver is important for your all-around health. Therefore, it’s important to know how you can avoid health issues…

Healthy Liver: Avoid Health Issues

The liver’s role

In order to understand why it’s important to have a healthy liver, it helps to know what it does. The liver is a pretty big organ; in fact, the only one’s that bigger is the skin! At any given time, the liver can be holding around one pint of blood, or 13% of the total in your body.

That’s because the liver’s main job is to filter our blood. Any blood coming in from the digestive track has to pass through this organ first, before being sent out to the rest of the body. While it does this, the liver also makes bile, which is an important component of the digestive process.

Liver and alcohol

Alcohol is one of most common reasons as to why some people don’t have healthy livers. As we drink, the stomach absorbs the alcohol and places it into the bloodstream. As this blood passes through the liver, the organ has to then filter out the alcohol (about 90%) and break it down. Usually, it takes one hour to process one alcoholic drink.

Still, there’s only so much alcohol the liver can process. The rest remains in our blood, which is how we get intoxicated. Constantly drinking too much and straining the liver can eventually damage it. This might start with something like scarring, before developing into liver disease or even cancer. 

Liver and pills

Prescription pills can harm a healthy liver in a similar manner. Certain ingredients in pills can cause damage to the liver in too high amounts. These can be both over-the-counter pills (such as Tylenol), or prescription ones such a opioids.

As with alcohol, one has to be careful about how many pills they take in a time span. If not, then they could cause damage without even being aware of it. As an extra safety measure, you should also avoid any alcoholic drinks when taking pills. 

in Drinking Dangers, Drinking Safety /by /#permalink
February 5, 2020
05 Feb 2020

Benzos: Uses and Risks

There’s many different categories for prescription pills. One of the more-important categories are benzos. In fact, these types of pills are some of the most popular in the U.S. However, they can also be very dangerous…

 Benzos: How They Can Help & Hurt

How they help

Benzos (short for benzodiazepines) are a type of drug which helps with things like anxiety, panic attacks, and seizures. They can even be helpful for those dealing with alcohol withdrawal. As a result of their potential usefulness, doctors tend to prescribe them at much higher rates than other prescription drugs. 

The drugs work by altering the chemistry in the brain. When taken, the drug will bind with special neurons in the brain to help slow it down. This in turn will help a person experience less mental stress as their overactive brain begins to relax. While there’s nearly 2,000 different types of these drugs, just 15 have been FDA approved.

Abuse factors

Like many other prescription pills, benzos are highly addictive. In fact, many people don’t realize they’re potentially developing an addiction. Even when taken properly, long-term usage can cause serious changes in the brain, which can cause a dependence to form.

There’s also the fact that these drugs are widely available. It’s very easy for someone to get a prescription or find pills if they’re seeking a high. Additionally, these people tend to take the drug in very high doses or mix it with something like alcohol. This only further increases the dangers that they can bring.

Potential risks

Benzos can lead to a lot of issues when abused. Feelings of constant confusion or drowsiness are pretty common. So are issues with vision, standing up, and talking. A person’s heart and breathing rate also tend to slow down to dangerous levels, to the point where they could slip into a coma.

If you feel like you’re developing an addiction, it’s best to go see a doctor as soon as you can. That way, they can check your usage and if it might be best to quit. Furthermore, they can also provide you with resources that can help you with getting clean.

in Prescription Abuse, Prescription Pill DUI /by /#permalink
January 29, 2020
29 Jan 2020

Staying Sober: Making Changes

If you had a DUI last year, or struggled with an addiction to alcohol, then one of your goals this year might be to sober up. However, many people have some fears about this process. Still, staying sober is definitely something that you can do. Practicing a few strategies in particular can help you stick to your goals…

Staying Sober: Good Strategies

Avoid risky situations

An important part of staying sober is limiting your time around alcohol. This is especially important during those first weeks and months. If you aren’t around alcohol, then that temptation to drink is also going to go down. As a result, you’ll want to avoid risky situations.

These situations tend to be ones where you know alcohol is going to be out, such as at parties. This also means not hanging out with friends you know will drink, and won’t stop for your sake. It might feel like you’re cutting yourself out of social events. In reality, you’re just ensuring you’ll be safe and sober when you do go back out.

Build up a support network

A good support network is also crucial for staying sober. It can be tough to handle getting sober alone. Therefore, having good friends and family to lean on are a great resource. These friends and family members can help pick you back up when you feel yourself struggling.

Also, try to look for potential support groups to join, like Alcoholics Anonymous. That way, you can meet and talk to people who are going through the same things you are. Plus, those who have been doing it for years can give you some valuable lessons to help you on your journey.

Keep yourself busy

Boredom can be hard to handle when staying sober. When you don’t have anything to do, those cravings can start to creep back up. To avoid this, it helps to have something else to do to take your mind off of those cravings.

Sometimes, you might just need a short-term distraction, like through chewing some gum. For those longer-term ones, try to find a new activity or hobby to immerse yourself in. Maybe you start going to to the gym, or work on your hobby when you feel cravings coming on. 

in Alcohol Options, drinking /by /#permalink
January 26, 2020
26 Jan 2020

Taking Opioids: Healthy & Unhealthy Intake

While opioid prescriptions are going down due to the recent crisis, many people take prescriptions for things like pain. However, it’s important to know when it might be better to avoid taking opioids. There’s a few times in specific where it’ll be safer to not take these pills…

Taking Opioids: When To Avoid Them

When pregnant

One time when you want to avoid taking opioids is when pregnant. The thing about being pregnant is that you aren’t just “eating for two”. Everything you do and consume is going to be connected to your baby. That includes if you take any opioid-based pills.

Like with other drugs, opioids can have a very negative impact on a developing child. For instance, they could cause the baby to develop an addiction themselves, or potentially lead to birth defects. It’s very important to talk to your doctor about what is or isn’t safe to take while pregnant. 

Taking other pills

You also have to be careful about taking opioids when taking other prescription pills. It’s not uncommon for people to have a lot of different prescriptions for different health issues. Most people might assume that they’re fine to take them as normal. Still, this may not always be the case.

Certain types of pills might not mix well with others. They could cause negative side-effect or other complications. In some rare cases, these complications could even be dangerous. That’s why you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the pills you’re taking, and if they’re dangerous or not.

Drinking alcohol

One thing which you certainly want to avoid taking opioids with is alcohol. Mixing opioids and alcohol can be a very risky, and potentially fatal, combination. The different effects that each drug has on the body, especially with slowing down one’s breathing a heart rate, are something you want to avoid.

Therefore, you have to be careful if you want to drink when taking these kinds of pills. Many pills will tell you on the label how long you should wait before drinking after taking them. Some people will just play it safe and avoid drinking altogether while on their prescription. 

in Prescription Abuse, Prescription Pill DUI /by /#permalink
January 15, 2020
15 Jan 2020

Cough Medicine Abuse

There is an increased focus on prescription pill abuse these days. However, other types of medicines still get abused every day, such as cough medicine. In fact, you might be surprised at how closely linked these two types of drugs are…

Cough Medicine Abuse: Potential Dangers

History of abuse

The reasons behind cough medicine abuse started due to what is inside it. The main component in question is codeine. Codeine is a very powerful opioid pain medication and cough suppressant, which is why drug companies used to place it in cough medicines. However, it is also highly addictive, like many other opioids.

As a result, it was a very cheap and easy way for people to get high. In fact, one used to be able to buy medicines with codeine in them over-the-counter. In response to this, the FDA banned codeine in these over-the-counter variants in the 1970’s. Now, one needs a doctor’s prescription to get medicine with codeine in it.

Continuing issues

However, despite regulations, cough medicine abuse still occurs. For starters, many people will fake or “play up” their illness in order to get a prescription. Others will opt to stick with over-the-counter options. This is because the replacement drug for codeine can still get a person high in large enough doses.

Furthermore, it’s also a lot easier to get and abuse than other drugs, especially the over-the-counter options. Despite the earlier regulations, it’s still not as much of a concern as other, more well-known, drugs might be. In fact, those who do become addicted tend to say codeine-based cough medicine was their “gateway” into opioids. Furthermore, some even may move on to narcotics such as heroin.

The potential dangers

Cough medicine abuse is something which is quite dangerous. It’s very easy to get develop a habit, and then later a full-on addiction. Plus, many people will just simply start drinking it from the bottle, unaware of just how much they’re taking. Others might mix it with things such as soda, which is known as “lean”.

Abusing cough medicine can lead to issues staying awake and with breathing. It can also cause seizures and even cause one to fall unconscious with a high enough dosage. Furthermore, continued abuse can cause damage to the liver, stomach, and excessive weight gain. 

in Prescription Abuse, Prescription Pill DUI /by /#permalink
January 9, 2020
09 Jan 2020

Oxycontin: A Powerful Painkiller

These days, due to the recent opioid crisis, there’s been an added importance on understanding what pills people take. One of the more common painkillers tends to be Oxycontin. While these pills can be helpful, they can also be dangerous…

Oxycontin: Prescription Uses & Dangers

The brief history

Compared to other drugs, Oxycontin has a pretty modern history. Back in 1916 the opioid oxycodone was invented in Germany. Ironically enough, the goal of this drug was to be a less addictive option than say morphine or heroin. Eventually, it would make its way to the United States in 1939. 

However, it was never really all that popular. In fact, it wouldn’t be until 1996, when Oxycontin itself would hit the scene, that it took off. Very quickly, it rose up in popularity. By 2001, it would become the best-selling painkiller in the country. It wouldn’t be until much later when people realized the dangers these drugs had.

How it’s different

So what exactly is it about Oxycontin that made it so popular? Mainly, it comes down to how it works. For instance, oxycodone is an instant-release drug. That means as soon as you take it, the drug will begin to take effect. Therefore, while it starts to work faster, it also wears off sooner.

By comparison, Oxycontin is an extended-release drug. That means it will slowly release into the body once you take it. This causes a longer-lasting feeling of pain relief. Other than that, both of these drugs work the same sort of way.

Risks involved

Like any opioid, Oxycontin is very addictive, despite what many drug companies said when first making them. Of course, opioid addiction can be very dangerous, and something you should be aware of when taking these pills. It’s very important to follow your prescription and be aware if you feel like you’re building a dependency.

There’s also some side-effects to keep in mind. Some of the most common ones tend to be nausea, dizziness, digestive problems, and insomnia. They can also cause breathing problems, especially for those with asthma. If you have any concerns, be sure to ask your doctor ahead of time.

in Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Prescription Pill DUI /by /#permalink
January 2, 2020
02 Jan 2020

Mixing Alcohol & Opioids: A Dangerous Cocktail

Alcohol by itself can be pretty dangerous when abused on its own. However, mixing alcohol with other drugs can be especially dangerous. Some of the most commonly mixed drugs are opioids. Combining these two drugs together can be a recipe for a bad time…

Mixing Alcohol: Booze And Opioids

Why mix them?

The reasons for some people mixing alcohol with opioids is relatively straightforward. Mainly, it comes down to how addictive these pills are. These painkillers are very strong, and very effective. Plus, they use the brain’s reward system to create feelings of euphoria. As a result, they’re some of the most highly-abused medication out there.

Meanwhile, alcohol works as a depressant. It slows the body and its functions down, and lowers inhibitions. So, when someone mixes these drugs, they want to boost the “feel-good” sensation of the pills, while also getting even more relaxed. However, this is much more dangerous than they may realize.

Short-term effects

The short-term effects of mixing alcohol and opioids are quite pressing. In effect, they’re basically the side-effects of each drug, but heavily amplified. For instance, drowsiness, memory issues, and nausea can be pretty common. So can feelings of numbness, and issues walking or talking.

Still, some of the most dangerous ones are related to how your body slows down. You might experience slower breathing, along with low blood pressure, temperature, and a slower pulse. But, due to the effects of the opioids, you may not realize this until it’s too late, and it may result in something such as hypoxia.

The long-term

Long-term results of mixing alcohol and opioids don’t present a pretty picture either. For starters, this combo tends to result in damage to the brain. This can be seen in ways like rapid mood swings, or issues with thinking or focusing. Plus, you might also have issues getting enough oxygen to the brain, due to problems breathing.

Other organs also tend to be at risk, such as the liver, the stomach and the intestines. There’s also the fact that this mixing can result in serious addictions to both alcohol and these pills. This makes things all the more harder if someone wants to try and quit.

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