Prevention

Although many have been describing the new street drug W-18 as an opioid, and although illegal drug manufacturers have been using it as a fentanyl substitute, recent news suggests that it is most likely not an opioid. What Is W-18? W-18 was originally found in drug products in Sweden in 2014 and later in Canada…

When Fall comes around, so does sports season and the tradition of tailgating. When most people think of tailgating they think of alcohol. 82 percent of tailgaters reported having two or more drinks at the big game. Whether it’s chugging a keg or making cocktails, there’s no doubting that alcohol is an integral part of…

As a parent, you want the absolute best for your children. You spend quite a bit of time teaching them how to make decisions that will benefit them now and down the road as an adult. When it comes to drinking, you certainly want to educate your children about alcohol and encourage them to steer…

When you give up drinking it can seem like all of the fun things you used to do go with it. Most of our social lives revolve around alcohol, which not only is unhealthy but can lead to the slippery slope of addiction. Choosing to live alcohol-free may seem like a daunting task, but all…

Hanging out with your friends is always a good time. You guys make each other laugh, talk about the things that matter, and are always there for each other when you need them the most. If you have a truly supportive group of friends, they will understand the struggles you’ve overcome in rehab and will…

In 2008, the NIH started funding the Human Microbiome Project in an effort to identify and characterize the microorganisms of the human body (such as those on the skin and in the vagina, mouth, and the intestinal tract) to determine if they play a role in human health and disease. This research has started unraveling…

A recent study suggests that mindfulness training can be used to reduce relapse rates related to cocaine or methamphetamine addiction in persons diagnosed with depression or anxiety.   What Are Stimulants? Stimulants are drugs that increase the body’s alertness and energy levels. They also increase blood pressure and heart rate, constrict blood vessels, and open…

In a perfect world, doctors would be able to identify patients who are prone to opioid addiction and prescribe them non-opioid painkillers that wouldn’t lead to dependence. For years, researchers have been trying to advance care to this point by looking for genes that contribute to addiction. There are currently a number of potential candidates,…

Researchers have discovered that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to identify structural and neural alterations in the brains of youth with a family history of alcohol and drug use disorders. This technique may be used to predict adolescent susceptibility to substance abuse disorders before substance abuse even begins. Contact us today at 504-510-2331…

When e-cigarettes first arrived on the market in 2006, companies proclaimed that they were safer than regular cigarettes and that they could be used to help people quit smoking. The jury is still out on whether or not these claims are actually true. Some say that there are fewer toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes, but there…