Prescriptions and Supplements: Deadly Combinations? A recent report published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine indicates that many individuals, particularly older adults (ages 62-85) are combining prescription medications and over the counter supplements without exploring the risks of doing so. The results were very interesting. A database of reported and predicted drug interactions was used … Read More
Half of Adolescents Misuse Prescriptions Recently, Quest Diagnostics conducted a study where they found that one in two adolescent patients between the ages of 10 and 17 are misusing their prescription medication. Misuse of prescription medication can be defined as a patient either combining prescribed medications with non-prescribed medication or skipping doses of prescription medication. … Read More
Post Surgery Prescriptions and Addiction A recent study at University of Buffalo showed that addiction to prescription meds develops easily after surgery –often unintentionally. This rising epidemic is real and is of concern. The study found that 31 out of 75 patients entering an opiate addiction detox clinic developed their addiction from a prescription they … Read More
Prescription Medications and Spring Cleaning Spring is finally here! Many people take time to clean everything in their homes. They wash walls, wipe out each cupboard and drawers, dust off fans and blinds, wipe down baseboards, go through closets and take items to a good will store, freshen up the yard, etc. During spring cleaning, … Read More
Elderly and Prescription Drug Abuse As human bodies age, they naturally experience a gradual decline in physical health. The normal aches and pains of childhood, youth, and middle age become more painful and debilitating. One’s ability to fight off infection and disease decreases, and the healing process is slower after an illness or injury. Because … Read More
Facts: College Student Prescription Drug Abuse Most college students use prescription drugs properly. However, about one in every four people aged 19 to 20 report using prescription drugs in a non-medical way at least once in their lives (NSDUH, 2008). Most college students, by their sophomore year in college, will have been offered the opportunity … Read More
Prescription drug abuse at colleges While alcohol abuse and binge drinking still remain top on the list of substance abuse issues within college campuses, the abuse of prescription drugs—mostly stimulants, sedatives and pain relievers—remains a growing, yet often unaddressed problem (SAMHSA, 2009; NCASA, 2007) according to talkabouttrx.org. They indicate that about one in four college … Read More
Top 10 most abused drugs The CDAC (Community Drug and Alcohol Council, Inc) recently reported the top 10 most abused drugs. The drugs are listed below in order of most often to least often abused. 1-Alcohol: The CDAC notes that, “with over half (51.8%) of U.S. population identified as drinkers, alcohol is the #1 most … Read More
Without drug cravings, drug addictions would be lessened significantly. The craving obviously perpetuates the addiction and the abuse that occurs with drug use. Drug cravings can be physical or psychological. Physical drug cravings happen when a drug dependent person builds up their tolerance to a drug or drugs over time. Drug cravings, like other physical … Read More
What are opiates? When asked this questions most of us think of poppy flowers, poppy seeds, Asia, or more recently, the drug heroin. In researching what opiates really are, I came across an article written for teens describing them. It was basic, very informative, and helped my understanding expand. It was on the site https://teens.drugabuse.gov. … Read More
