Tag: Substance Abuse

Medicine for Alcohol Withdrawal: Uses, Benefits, and Risks

A man looking contemplative, leaning against a window, symbolizing introspection during addiction recovery.|Close-up of a clock face with the words "Time to Sober Up" instead of numbers, emphasizing the importance of taking action for sobriety

Alcohol withdrawal is a serious condition that can occur when someone with alcohol dependence suddenly stops or significantly reduces their drinking. This process can be dangerous and even life-threatening, making proper medical management crucial. Medications play a vital role in ensuring a safe and effective detox process. Alcohol abuse contributes significantly to public health issues, […]

Treating Addiction and Withdrawal with Methadone

Bright green methadone liquid in a clear 10ml measuring cup, used for addiction treatment

Methadone is a synthetic opioid drug. Anyone who’s experiencing addiction or dependence upon opiates can seek methadone treatment. That’s why it’s so important to have a plan for dealing with withdrawals when you’re starting the process of recovery. We’re going to talk about methadone in this article, discussing why it can be effective in treating […]

The Shocking Rise in Valium Abuse

Close-up image of a large pile of light blue prescription pills, likely opioids, scattered on a white surface, illustrating the scale of prescription drug abuse

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increase of people using the Internet and street dealers to obtain prescription drugs to treat anxiety and insomnia. The drugs causing the most concern are sold as benzodiazepines, including fake Xanax and ‘street Valium. There are many forms of illegal benzos circulating, and these are dangerous to […]

Valium Addiction and Abuse – Diazepam

bottle of valium on it side with pills scattered on a blue surface

Valium, like all benzodiazepines, quickly causes tolerance and dependence. Valium Addiction can advance quickly if the drug is not used in a way advised by a doctor.  Valium taken continuously over a prolonged time can cause a person to become tolerant of a certain dosage, and they need to take more to feel any of […]

Drug Addiction

Depressed woman with long hair covering her face with hands, sitting alone in dim lighting, showing signs of emotional distress|Close-up of a table with drug paraphernalia including a syringe, lighter, spoon, and alcoholic drink, depicting the dangers of combined substance abuse|Diagram illustrating the cycle of drug addiction, showing brain regions involved in preoccupation, binge/intoxication, and withdrawal stages|Comparison table of substance use disorder criteria across DSM-IV Abuse, DSM-IV Dependence, and DSM-5 Substance Use Disorders, highlighting changes in diagnostic criteria|Image depicting drug paraphernalia: a syringe and spoon with white powdery substance, illustrating the dangers of drug addiction|Infographic showing statistics on drug and alcohol harm to families, including 20% of children 'in need' affected by drug misuse and 18% by alcohol misuse|Illustration of a human head profile showing the brain, with text "Dopamine and Drug Addiction: When feeling good goes bad", explaining the neuroscience behind addiction|Table showing prescription rates for potentially addictive medications in England, including antidepressants (16.6%), opioid pain medicines (12.8%), and benzodiazepines (3.1%)|Close-up of a man lighting a marijuana joint, illustrating the act of drug use and potential addiction|Infographic showing drug use statistics in England: 2.7 million adults used illicit drugs, 314,000 opiate/crack users, and higher rates of problematic drug use among women in prisons|Close-up of a middle-aged woman with dyed red hair and a gray sweater, looking sad and distressed with her hand on her face, possibly depicting someone dealing with addiction or mental health issues

Drug addiction in the UK and around the world is a pressing issue that affects individuals from all walks of life. With its profound impact on physical and mental health, as well as society as a whole, understanding and addressing drug addiction is paramount. In this blog post, we will delve into the complexities of […]

What is Cross Addiction?

Silhouette of a human head filled with various drugs, alcohol, and paraphernalia, with a wind-up key in the back, symbolizing addiction's control over the mind|Road sign showing 'Old Habits' pointing left and 'New Habits' pointing right, with a desert highway in the background, symbolizing the journey from cross-addiction to recovery|Symbolic image of an open wire cage against a blue sky with clouds, and feathers floating away, representing liberation from addiction

The First Step to Recovery – Admission Before we can address any problem, we must, of course, admit that there is a problem. One of the oldest and most established forms of addiction treatment, the 12-step model, invariably has as its first step this admission. This is regardless of the form that the addiction takes. […]

Treatment for Elderly Alcoholics

Distressed elderly man with hands on head sitting at table with bottle of alcohol and glass, illustrating the struggle with alcohol addiction in later life|Distressed elderly man with hands on head, sitting at table with bottle of alcohol and glass, illustrating the struggle with alcohol addiction in later life|Close-up of two people holding hands, wearing casual clothing, symbolizing family support and connection during addiction recovery process

Our senior years are often considered a time of rest and reconciliation. It is our golden years when we earn our well-deserved retirement. This is very true for many of us. However, another side of being a senior citizen is being ignored by the rest of the world. It is considered a “silent epidemic” among […]

Crystal Meth Addiction in the UK

Chemists in yellow hazmat suit handling dangerous chemicals in a makeshift laboratory setting||The word "METH" spelled out in grungy metal letters on a distressed wooden background, emphasizing the harsh reality of methamphetamine addiction|Macro photograph of crystal meth shards showing translucent, jagged crystalline structures against a black background|Vibrant pink neural network illustration showing interconnected neurons and synapses, representing the brain's complex structure affected by substance abuse|Infographic showing how long meth stays in your system for different drug tests: saliva (3 days), hair (90 days), and urine (3-5 days). Includes note about false positives from Zantac and Vick's Inhaler.

In 2019, 11,000 people in the UK took crystal meth. This is a relatively small number when compared with the rest of the world. It’s also not a huge number when compared to the other drug problems that are prevalent in the UK. But if you or someone you love is personally affected, then it can have […]

Legal Highs What Are They and Why Are They Banned?

Selection of colourful pills spread across a blue surface

What is are legal highs? New Psychoactive Substances like Spice, which have resulted in scores of users being hospitalised over the UK, were “expected to leave more people needing emergency medical treatment” than any other drug and resulting in legal highs addiction, the Global Drug Survey 2015 found. By the end of 2017, over a […]

What are the Causes of Alcoholism?

Concerned woman holding glass of red wine, looking pensive in home setting, possible signs of alcohol dependency

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol addiction, alcohol misuse or alcohol dependence. It is described as a physical compulsion and a mental obsession to consume alcohol. Alcoholism is defined as excessive consumption of alcohol resulting in significant negative impacts on one’s life and persistent drinking despite these issues. There are many causes and risk factors […]