Substance abuse is a problem that isn’t limited to just one type of person or one profession: It can affect people from all walks of life. Medical professionals are not immune and many struggle with substance abuse addiction. Although it’s difficult to know the exact levels of drug use among doctors and nurses, it’s estimated that one out of every nine Americans struggles with addiction. If the ratio remains the
[continue reading...]

While it’s true that men are more likely than women to have opportunities to use drugs, men and women are just as likely to try drugs, and they progress from experimental drug use to addiction equally. But men and women seem to differ in their vulnerability to specific drugs. Both are equally likely to become addicted to or dependent on cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, tobacco, and inhalants. Women are more likely than men
[continue reading...]

Heroin: We’ve all heard the terrible stories and some of us have seen the horror up close. But how do we know if someone we care about is using or addicted to heroin? Many of the most common signs and symptoms of heroin use, abuse or addition will be apparent in the form of drastic change. These kinds of changes could be physical, habitual, emotional or in terms of performance
[continue reading...]

Long-term alcohol abuse and alcoholism can lead to a variety of harmful effects on the health, including tremors, hallucinations and damage to vital organs. Over time, prolonged alcohol use can also have a detrimental effect on the brain—one that may or may not be reversible after alcohol consumption has ceased. Research shows that chronic alcoholism damages the cerebellum, the part of the brain that regulates motor control, attention and language.
[continue reading...]

A recently released smartphone app purports to estimate a user’s blood alcohol levels. Developed by the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Show Me My Buzz app “allows users to calculate their estimated blood alcohol concentration based on how many drinks they have consumed, how long they have been drinking and their gender,” according to MoDOT. The app also provides phone numbers for local cab companies, allowing users to quickly locate
[continue reading...]