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Drug Abuse

Is Microdosing Psychedelic Drugs Dangerous?

Imagine if you could reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression, make socializing easier, and increase your focus and energy through the use of a psychedelic drug—without the hallucinogenic effects. That’s the lure of “microdosing” for those who seek the perceived benefits of this kind of drug using only a fraction of a full dose. Before any attempt to try microdosing psychedelic drugs, it’s essential to learn the risks involved.    Microdosing psychedelic drugs involves taking a fraction (5%-10%) of a

Drug Overdose and COVID-19: The Perfect Storm

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the number of drug overdoses also continues to rise. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), overdose rates are increasing faster during this pandemic than at any other time in recent history. This is a major concern, as we already have an opioid crisis in this country. As a result, the need for substance use disorder treatment is more urgent than ever. In this blog post, we will discuss the link between the

What is Trauma-Informed Treatment?

When it comes to substance use disorders, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding. One of the most common misconceptions is that people with addiction are “bad” or “weak,” which could not be further from the truth. Addiction is a complex brain disease that affects people from all walks of life. Trauma-informed treatment is a particular type of care that recognizes trauma’s role in addiction and recovery. This blog post will discuss what trauma-informed treatment is and why it’s

Signs You’re Enabling Your Loved One

If you have a loved one with a substance use disorder, it can be difficult to know when you are enabling them. Many people enable their loved ones without even realizing it. Enabling is anything that allows your loved one to continue using drugs or alcohol. It can be challenging to break the cycle of enabling, but it is important to do so if you want your loved one to get help. In this blog post, we will discuss the

What is a Residential Treatment Center? 5 Things to…

When researching how to manage a substance use disorder (SUD) you’ve probably wondered, “What is a residential treatment center?” at some point. Without knowing what inpatient treatment means, you might miss considering it as a potential option for your alcohol or drug use. To help you make a more informed decision, let’s look at what’s offered at a residential treatment center and five things you should know before going to one. A residential treatment center is designed to have a

Fast Facts About Fentanyl

Opioid medications are the most potent painkillers available to doctors. They act on opioid receptors, which are found throughout the body and brain to reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain. There are three broad classes of opioid analgesic drugs: Natural opiates (such as morphine) Semi-synthetic opioids (such as hydromorphone) Fully synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl) Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid analgesic similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more powerful. It has legitimate medical

Is Marijuana Addictive? Everything You Need to Know

The growth of legal marijuana use in parts of the U.S. may suggest it remains a harmless drug. Those who use a medicinal version of it speak of the benefits to their health and well-being, perhaps adding to the notion that it’s completely safe. Let’s examine what can make its use problematic and how to recognize when marijuana addiction has already begun. Marijuana, also called weed, can be addictive for users, whether consumed by smoking or through consuming it in

Smoking and Recovery from Addiction: Why They Don’t Go…

If you’ve been to a recovery fellowship, it’s likely you’ve seen people gather together on a smoke break. Even non-smokers may join just for social time. In light of treatment for alcohol or drug use, cigarettes may seem to be no real threat in comparison. The truth is, smoking can actually interfere with recovery work. Today, let’s take a look at what makes “lighting up” an extra problem for a person with a substance use disorder. Smoking has long been

What is Really in Street Heroin?

Heroin bought on the street is almost never pure heroin. The actual heroin content can vary widely, usually between about 50 percent and 80 percent. It is almost always cut or laced with something else. When heroin is “cut” that means whatever is added to it is just filler with little or no psychoactive effect. When heroin is “laced” that means something is added to either imitate the effect of the heroin or add to the effect. Cutting and lacing

Is Ecstasy Addictive?

Ecstasy is one of many party drugs your teen or college-age child may be exposed to on occasion. You may discover your son or daughter has even tried ecstasy more than once. How has it affected them and is it addictive may be two of the first questions you have at that point. We’ll answer those questions below, share some warning signs of heavy ecstasy use, and introduce some treatment options. Ecstasy is one name for a psychoactive drug that

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If you or someone you love has a substance use or mental health disorder, Origins Behavioral HealthCare can help. We will work alongside you to provide the most comprehensive treatment available.