Dabbing is a relatively new form of marijuana use that has become popular over the past few years. Dabbing uses a concentrated extract of marijuana’s active ingredient, THC. There are various names for this extract, including butane hash oil, or BHO, honey oil, wax, budder, and shatter. BHO is a thick greenish brown substance that…
There’s a common belief that drugs and alcohol make you more creative. This is perhaps understandable, since many of the great writers, artists, and musicians have used drugs and alcohol, too often to the point of addiction and self-destruction. Also, drugs and alcohol make people feel more creative. However, studies have shown feeling more creative…
Over the past 60 years or so, marijuana has been associated with creativity. Writers, artists, comedians, and musicians have been known to use it regularly. Marijuana is especially associated with the counterculture of the 1960s and all the new art, ideas, and music that emerged from it. Many people feel like marijuana is essential to…
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world. They are typically prescribed to treat acute anxiety, panic attacks, or insomnia related to stressful events. They work well when used for very short periods. Unfortunately, benzodiazepines are also extremely addictive. Even two weeks of regular use can lead…
More than half of people with substance use disorders also have a mental health issue. Common dual diagnoses include depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia. Many people with these disorders will try to mask the symptoms with drugs or alcohol. This works temporarily, but in the long run,…
Most people who struggle with addiction have another mental health issue to go along with it. This is called a dual diagnosis. Common dual diagnoses include depression, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. One common anxiety disorder is social anxiety disorder, which is intense anxiety caused by social situations. About 15 million Americans suffer…
There are several factors that determine how addictive a substance is. These factors include how much the drug affects your brain’s reward system, how fast-acting the substance is, how hard it is to get, how quickly you become dependent, and how hard it is to quit. Intense or protracted withdrawal symptoms are among the biggest…
Many people take opioid painkillers for chronic pain such as back pain, arthritis, or lingering pain from injuries. Fear of experiencing pain is one reason people are reluctant to quit taking opioids, even when it is clear they have become harmful. However, there now better ways to treat chronic pain. Many non-addictive medications have been…
Recreational marijuana is now legal in nine states, including Colorado and Nevada, and medical marijuana is now legal in 31 states, including New Mexico. The stigma attached to marijuana is fading and it is becoming more socially acceptable. While preliminary studies have not found significantly more people are using marijuana after it becomes legal, that…
One major risk factor for depression is chronic illness, especially illnesses that involve pain. Studies have found that depression is common among people who suffer from arthritis, both rheumatoid arthritis and age-related osteoarthritis. The connection between these conditions is not yet clear, and is likely complex. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects people…
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