Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can cause inflammation and damage to the liver. The virus can cause serious health complications including liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer. Hepatitis C is easily spread among injection drug users and, although it can go away naturally, 80 percent of people develop a chronic and lifelong…
As we enter into a life of sobriety, it may be difficult to address minor aches and pains without the use of mind-altering substances. Fortunately, there are a variety of non-medication-based treatments that are effective in treating aches, pains, and a variety of other mental and physical health conditions. One of the most effective alternative…
Psychedelic drugs have recently entered the spotlight because of their potential effectiveness in treating certain mental health disorders. However, it is important to understand that the new research into psychedelics is taking place in clinical settings and under the supervision of therapists and medical professionals. Psychedelics encompass a broad range of different psychoactive substances. Some…
It can be difficult to get active when we first achieve sobriety. We often cared little about our physical and mental health when we living with addiction, but sobriety gives us a chance to finally turn our attention to our health and happiness. Working out can feel tedious, but we can find ways to get…
Alcoholism is a destructive disease that entirely overtakes one’s mental, physical, and spiritual health. It reaches a point where a person is entirely unable to stop drinking despite any negative consequences they may face. It is difficult to determine at what point a person’s drinking crosses the threshold into alcoholism, but there are a variety…
Krokodil regularly tops the list of the world’s deadliest drugs. The major danger of krokodil is not necessarily the opioid compound present in the substance, rather it is the process of making the drug that can cause severe health problems.The use of krokodil has been associated with severe flesh-eating bacterial infections, and there have been…
From Ernest Hemingway to Amy Winehouse, it seems as though there is a strong link between creative, talented people and the disease of addiction. . It seems that every week we hear about another musician or artist struggling with the disease, and it would not be entirely incorrect to assume that creative people are more…
Intravenous (IV) drug use carries a great amount of risk of overdose and severe health consequences. One major health problem linked with IV drug use is bacterial infection. Bacteria can enter into the body via a dirty needle and cause severe infections that require immediate medical attention. In some cases, bacteria can spread through the…
Recovery from addiction is about more than just abstinence from drugs and alcohol. It is a process of achieving and maintaining sobriety, as well as growing and developing both personally and spiritually. Selfishness and self-centeredness can be major stumbling blocks on our journey of recovery. We should do our best to shift our behavior from…
DXM, or dextromethorphan, is a common ingredients in many over-the-counter cough medicines. It is often abused in high doses because it has dissociative, sedative, and stimulant properties. Due to its availability, one in ten teenagers reported abusing DXM in 2008. When taken as directed, DXM-containing medications are effective cough suppressants, but when abused, they can…