Deciding to get sober is one of the most courageous things a person can do. But for many people, one of the first fears that surfaces isn't about cravings or withdrawal, but about loneliness. If most of your friendships were…
You've probably heard a lot about THC, the compound in marijuana that gets you high. But lately, a different term keeps popping up at smoke shops, gas stations, and online retailers: THCA. It's being sold in hemp flower, pre-rolls, gummies,…
Brightly colored pills that look like candy or sidewalk chalk have appeared in communities across the United States, and they're anything but innocent. Rainbow fentanyl refers to fentanyl pills and powder deliberately dyed in various bright colors, creating an appearance…
When you suspect someone you care about might be using drugs, their eyes often tell the story first. "High eyes" (pupils that are unusually dilated or constricted, bloodshot, or glassy) are among the most recognizable physical signs of drug use.…
Using one substance is risky enough, but many people engage in a particularly dangerous pattern called polysubstance abuse: the simultaneous or sequential use of multiple drugs or combining drugs with alcohol. This practice has become increasingly common and is responsible…
Gabapentin, originally developed to treat seizures and nerve pain, has become increasingly common in medical practice. But many patients and their families ask an important question: is gabapentin addictive? While this medication is often prescribed as a safer alternative to…
You wake up after a night of drinking, and along with the pounding headache and queasy stomach, there's something else: a creeping sense of dread, worry, or panic that seems to come out of nowhere. If this sounds familiar, you're…
The term wet brain is a non-medical way to describe a serious and potentially irreversible condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). This neurological disorder is caused by a severe deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1), a common complication in people with…
When people think about relapse, they often picture the physical act of using drugs or alcohol again. However, the truth is that relapse usually starts long before a drink is poured or a drug is taken. The first stage is…
When prescribed responsibly, gabapentin can be a powerful tool to manage neuropathic pain, seizures, or alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant that’s widely used (and often misused) for its calming effects or as a social lubricant.…