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.…
Addiction is often viewed as a battle against substances, but at its core, it’s also a battle with oneself. For many people, addiction isn’t just about the drug, drink, or behavior; it’s about the deep, inner struggle to resist the…
The pounding headache, the dry mouth, the nausea—most people recognize the physical effects of a hangover. But what happens when the worst part of the morning after isn’t your body, but your mind? Enter hangxiety, a term that’s become increasingly…
In the world of party drugs, few substances are gaining attention as quickly or as dangerously as pink cocaine. With its pastel color and catchy nickname, it might sound harmless or even glamorous, but behind the marketing and the Instagram-ready…