Archive for February, 2011
Next Entries »Drug Addiction and Bulimia
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011Drug addiction is a potentially fatal disease that thousands of individuals suffer from. For many, a drug dependency is not the only disease; some also suffer from the eating disorder bulimia. For these individuals, the effects of both diseases are exacerbated and the conditions are worsened. With a more thorough education of bulimia and drug [...]
Heroin Addiction
Monday, February 7th, 2011About 810,000 Americans are addicted to heroin. Heroin is a highly addictive drug that has a devastating impact on society and cost billions of dollars each year. Major health problems caused by heroin abuse include miscarriages, heart infections and death from overdose. People who use heroin intravenously are also at risk for infectious diseases, including [...]
Self Medication and Dual Diagnosis
Friday, February 4th, 2011Many individuals suffer from a variety of mental and emotional disorders. Unfortunately, some use drugs, illicit or prescription, to self-medicate, attempting to find relief from their disorders. This, only leads them down a path of destruction, as their eventual use becomes repeated and a drug addiction is formed. Fortunately, individuals suffering from both a mental [...]
Barbiturate Drug Interactions in Pregnant Women
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011The way barbiturates work is not entirely understood yet. Doctors believe that barbiturates activate what are called “GABA” receptors in the brain. GABA receptors work in the brain by telling different body functions to slow down when activated. Barbiturates activate these GABA receptors, producing the side effects of sedation. Barbiturate use essentially tells different brain [...]
Terms Related to Substance Abuse
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011Psychoactive substances can be defined as drugs that alter your mind and thought process. The abuse of psychoactive substances is not so easy to define. The American Psychiatric Association, or APA, published the fourth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” commonly referred to as the DSM-IV. The APA uses this manual [...]
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