Stimulants, which include cocaine and amphetamines, speed up the body’s system, which increases blood pressure and heart rate. This can result in serious health issues, and they are often involved in overdoses.
Opioids have been involved in most overdoses in the U.S. over the past several years. These include heroin, morphine, prescription opioids and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. While you may wish that your loved one not use opioids at all, if they do, here are some harm reduction strategies for opioid use that you can share with them to reduce their risk of illness and death.
Regular drinking can have serious health consequences, including the risk of several kinds of cancer. You may wish that your loved one not drink at all, but if they do use alcohol, occasionally or frequently, here are some strategies you can share with them to reduce the risks associated with use.
Dabbing is a method of consuming marijuana in a concentrated form. Referred to as “dabs,” these marijuana concentrates usually look like dark brown or yellow-colored wax and can feel very sticky and gummy. Marijuana dabs are used by vaporizing the concentrates on a hot surface and inhaling the resulting fumes. Slang terms for dabs include butane hash oil, honey oil, budder, crumble and shatter.
Having co-occurring depression and substance use can make both conditions worse and harder to treat. A loved one may use substances to cope with their depression, but this can lead to using more and more of the substance to get relief.
Are your loved one’s concerning thoughts, emotions and behaviors the result of a mental health disorder or a substance use disorder? Determining differential diagnosis is important because treatment for a mental health disorder can be very different from treatment for a substance use disorder.
Support can include recognizing that there is a problem; motivating them to get help; navigating the treatment system; and helping them sustain progress in recovery. It can be a significant emotional time and financial commitment, but research shows that family involvement improves outcomes.
Among all the recommended strategies out there for “effective parenting,” there are 10 key strategies that can really move the needle and one key strategy that can either increase or decrease the effectiveness of the other nine: parental modeling or how parents and caregivers act.
A form of treatment for alcohol use disorder that focuses on reducing use rather than complete abstinence, the Sinclair method may be an option to consider if your loved one is struggling with alcohol use.
Starting on the path to recovery can be challenging, but there is a new type of earpiece that may be able to help ease the pain of withdrawal symptoms and assist in the treatment process.
“Same Love” singer-songwriter Mary Lambert opens up to Elizabeth Vargas about how experiencing childhood trauma, including sexual assault, being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and a difficult relationship with the church as a queer woman, led to her intentionally misusing alcohol for many years.
Your loved one may want treatment for alcohol or other drugs, but wish to continue using medical marijuana. Many programs won't allow it. Learn what you can do to help.
Marijuana is increasingly being used when pregnant or nursing. It's important to understand the risks and how it can impact the developing baby. Just as with alcohol, there is no safe amount to use when expecting or nursing.
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