History of Alcohol Alcohol has existed nearly as long as civilization, itself. Dating back to as early as 7000 B.C., this simple, fermented grain has been used for medicinal, spiritual, and social purposes. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that the general attitude towards alcohol began to change. Citing its addictive and destructive qualities, a…
History of Cocaine The use of this well-known stimulant has existed since 3000 B.C. when the Inca people discovered that chewing coca leaves native to the region caused an exhilarating effect. In 1859, German Chemist Albert Niemann isolated cocaine from coca leaves, and, by the 1880s, cocaine was promoted across the medical community. Due to…
History of Heroin The drug commonly referred to as heroin is an offshoot of morphine, a natural substance found in poppy seeds. In 1898, The Bayer Company promoted the drug as a pain reliever more potent than its predecessors and heroin soon became available to the public. For a decade, addiction to the new pain…
History of Methamphetamine Although developed in Japan in 1919, methamphetamine remained largely unknown until WWII when it was regularly distributed to troops on all fronts. Acting as a stimulant, soldiers required less rest to remain sharp in combat while Japanese Kamikaze pilots were known to inject methamphetamine before their suicide missions. Post-WWII, the drug was…
Let’s face it, family roles in addiction treatment is scary. This initial step on the road to recovery can leave one feeling vulnerable, exposed, and unfairly judged. Due to these innate fears, many treatment-seeking clients are hesitant to involve those closest to them in order to prevent unease or embarrassment. Although there are many serious…
Over 12,000 adolescents try a new substance every day. Read our parent guide to alcohol and drug intervention tailored specifically for your teen. Teen Identity Development The stage of adolescence is considered between the ages of 13 and 17. These four years are critical to lay a foundation towards being a responsible and independent young…
Spice and K2, the OG synthetic cannabinoids, debuted in 2008, but many other forms of fake weed followed, often with a slightly different chemical makeup to subdue fresh laws surrounding these dangerous designer drugs. Keep reading to learn more. How many overdoses and deaths are related to synthetic drugs? Early detection of new synthetic drugs…
As the holiday season approaches, risks for relapse, overdose, and overdose deaths increase, and prolonged social isolation during COVID-19 certainly doesn’t help. Create, review, or update your relapse prevention plan now. Keep reading to learn more. Relapse is Part of Recovery The biggest threat to those in treatment or recovery is relapse. Many addiction treatment…
Though COVID-19 restrictions in the Southeast are becoming less stringent, there are still risks associated with the pandemic that are particularly challenging for those with substance use disorder, those in addiction treatment, and those in addiction recovery. Most states put quarantine orders into place mid to late March, and what followed touched every individual in…
Combining alcohol with any strong prescription medicine is dangerous. Most of these medications carry a warning stating they should not be used along with alcohol, but users often disregard these warnings. Alcohol consumption alone can result in serious side effects. However, it can also worsen the side effects of other substances including prescription medications. Opiates…