NARCONON BLOG

DRUG INFORMATION

Drug Abuse Lowers the Body’s Immune System and Makes Addicts More Susceptible to Viruses

Every year yet another dangerous virus crops up and threatens American lives. Sadly, drug users are at even greater risk, as drug use lowers the body's immune system. This is yet another reason why addicts must get help as soon as possible.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Overdoses on the Rise—Prescription Drugs are a Major Concern for Teens

It’s important to make sure that teens and young adults have the best shot at a healthy, happy life. A big part of that means making sure they don’t experiment with drugs and alcohol. But when overdoses are on the rise, parents should implement new...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

What is the Real Effect of the Opiate Epidemic on Children?

The children are the future of society, the guarantee that the human race will go on into the future. Protecting their health is of the utmost importance. How has the opiate epidemic affected children? And what can be done to reverse those effects?

DRUG REHABILITATION

Addiction Among Soldiers—Helping Our Servicemen and Women Overcome Substance Abuse

Substance abuse among veterans is a growing problem. As military men and women return from deployment suffering from battlefield trauma, substance abuse becomes more prevalent. For those who struggle with physical injuries and horrific memories of war,...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Important Update for Families from the 2019 Drug Threat Assessment

Every year, the Drug Enforcement Administration reports on the biggest drug threats in our country because those threats never stay the same two years in a row. These annual reports can arm parents with enough information to warn their children of the...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Alcohol Abuse in Alaska, America's Last Frontier

One would hardly think that in a land so remote, so beautiful, and, in many ways, so unforgiving, that alcohol addiction would rear its ugly head. But among a certain demographic of Alaska residents, alcohol addiction is a serious problem.

DRUG INFORMATION

What is Dabbing? A Guide for Parents

As marijuana legalization has increased, new and risky ways of using cannabis products are coming to the forefront. What do parents need to know to protect their kids?

ADDICTION

Prison Sentences Don’t Help Drug Addicts — A Look at Post-Prison Relapse Rates

There is no clear evidence that incarcerating people who use drugs is the right way to address the drug crisis.

DRUG REHABILITATION

There are Many Definitions of Recovery – Which One is Right for You?

Recovery is recovery is recovery – Isn’t it? Isn’t recovery the same thing for everyone finishing rehab? Aren’t we all talking about the same thing? Actually, we’re not. There are many definitions of recovery, depending on whom you talk to.

DRUG INFORMATION

The Great Controversy: Is There Really a Connection Between Marijuana Use and Traffic Accidents?

It can be hard to get a straight answer to this question. We'll look at some of the effects of pot and some of the data on traffic accidents and you can decide.

DRUG INFORMATION

How Your Brain Struggles When You Use Marijuana, Alcohol or Any Drugs

We cannot live without a healthy and functioning brain. What happens to our brains if we use drugs such as alcohol, marijuana or ecstasy?

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Meth Addiction Soars in South Dakota

South Dakota tried to raise awareness of their meth problem with a controversial ad campaign. They definitely got attention, but it might not have been the attention they were looking for. And at the end of the day, what's really being done to address...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Scotland's Overdose Epidemic – Finding the Correct Solution

Here's an eye-catching headline: “Where the Nurse Prescribes Heroin." One might think it was the headline to a fictional piece, a dystopian essay or novel on what life would be like if full-scale drug use permeated our society.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Safe Driving – The Importance of Getting There Alive

It's important to learn the truth about drunk and drugged driving, the harm involved, what precipitates such decisions, and what people can do to prevent the lethal phenomena of under-the-influence driving.

DRUG REHABILITATION

Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap

Though millions of Americans struggle with addiction, only a small percentage ever actually get help with qualified treatment. What is the “Treatment Gap?” And how can we close this gap for good?

STATISTICS & TRENDS

What Was Johnson & Johnson's Role in Triggering the Opioid Epidemic?

Oklahoma's lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson revealed the role this company played in encouraging the too-liberal use of opioid painkillers. Witness testimony also pointed to the special way this company profited from increased prescribing – of their...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

As Jobs are Lost, Addiction Statistics Soar

People turn to drugs and alcohol for many different reasons. For as many people that there are who are addicted, there are just as many reasons why those people use substances. Addicts are unique individuals. Each one will have his or her story of why...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Opioid Lawsuits – Where Should Settlement Money Go?

An October 2019 article in USA Today focused on how critical it is that opioid lawsuit settlement dollars are used to treat addiction. This should be a given, to use settlements from pharma companies to treat addicts (especially considering that many addicts...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Recession, Poverty, and Substance Abuse Leads to a Drop in Life Expectancy in Great Britain

A headline in the New York Times reads, “Shortchanged: Why British Life Expectancy Has Stalled.” With just a glance at the headline, I was hit with a wave of deja vu. Then I remembered I’d written about this subject before, except in the context...

ADDICTION

Is it True When Drug Users Say, “I’m Only Hurting Myself”?

This is a line many families hear when they beg their addicted loved ones to accept their offer of rehab: “Leave me alone. I’m only hurting myself.” While every family member knows this not to be true, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to convince...