admin

Doctors are prescribing benzodiazepines, like Xanax and Ativan, at skyrocketing rates. But most don’t know about their debilitating, even deadly. When Christy Huff developed a painful eye problem that led to insomnia, her doctor had a common solution— Xanax. She took the medication as directed. One pill at night offered her some relief, but soon …

Dangers of rising benzo prescriptions raise alarms of next drug crisis Read More »

For the second year in a row, life expectancy in the United States has dropped.1 In 2020, the US experienced the largest drop life expectancy since World War II: 1.8 years.2 Now, life expectancy is yet another year lower, and declines in all individual 50 states. Declines differed significantly amongst race/ethnic groups. Although COVID-19 obviously …

The Overdose Epidemic and the “Astounding” Life Expectancy Drop Read More »

Q&A Suicide Prevention Week is September 4-10. This week, we at Psychiatric Times want to highlight how best to support patients, friends, family, and anyone who might be having suicidal thoughts. We sat down with Manish Mishra, MBBS, the Chief Medical Officer of the Texas Healthcare and Diagnostic Center, to discuss. PT: What does research …

The Role of Alcohol and Substances in Suicide Read More »

A new study finds that mood shifts and exposure to alcohol-related cues contribute to alcohol cravings in opposite ways for men and women. Investigators at the University of Central Florida explored how attention to alcohol-related cues and the influence of mood and biological sex affects current cravings, by gathering data from 69 college student drinkers …

Mood Shifts Have Opposite Impact on Alcohol Cravings in Men and Women Read More »

Border Patrol agents seized more than $4 million in fentanyl along the Arizona border. Agents arrested two U.S. citizens and seized 340 packages of fentanyl pills near Gila Bend on Wednesday. The narcotics, generally considered lethal at just 2 milligrams, were discovered while conducting a vehicle stop along Interstate 8. During the stop, agents observed …

Border Patrol agents seize $4.3M of fentanyl in Arizona Read More »

Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam, a drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax is part of a class of anti-anxiety drugs called benzodiazepines. Like alcohol, Xanax is a depressant. That means it slows down nervous system activity. Serious side effects of Xanax include: memory problems seizures loss of coordination Serious side …

What Happens When You Combine Alprazolam (Xanax) and Alcohol Read More »

Detoxing from certain substances under the supervision of medical professionals can help you navigate withdrawal safely. Withdrawal symptoms from substance abuse can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening in some cases. Medically-assisted detox seeks to soothe the physical symptoms of stopping the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol. Since it addresses the very real physical …

Which Substance Abuse Issues May Require Medically Assisted Detox? Read More »

TALLAHASSEE – As Florida grapples with nearly 2,000 overdose deaths so far this year, state leaders on Wednesday announced a “massive” effort to address opioid addiction in counties that need it most. The initiative, which includes Florida’s first statewide director of opioid recovery, is based on a pilot treatment program in Palm Beach County that …

Florida leaders announce “massive” effort to address opioid epidemic Read More »

Klonopin (clonazepam) is a medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. It is intended for short-term use. This is because, after about several weeks, most people develop a physical dependence. When someone is dependent on a drug like Klonopin, it means they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it or …

How Long Does Withdrawal From Klonopin Last? Read More »

Heroin is an illegal opioid that can negatively impact health. Like many illegal drugs, heroin can have adverse cardiovascular effects, such as irregular heart rates and heart attacks. Additionally, injecting the substance can also lead to heart problems, such as collapsing veins and bacterial infections. Heroin is derived from morphine, which occurs naturally in the …

Can heroin cause heart problems? Read More »