NARCONON BLOG

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Alarm Bells Sound In Oklahoma Meth Epidemic

When we think of the drug problem in the U.S., the first thing we almost always think of is the opiate epidemic. The opiate epidemic usually takes the spotlight. And not without good reason. The majority of all drug deaths every year are at the hands of...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Drug Abuse Leads to an Increase in Working-Age Deaths

Over the last few years, several articles, research papers, and studies have been published, all of which indicate a decline in life expectancy for the American people. That’s something to be concerned about. In one of the wealthiest, most technologically...

DRUG INFORMATION

Doubling the Risk of Stroke—A Harmful Consequence of Marijuana Use

Marijuana. Marijuana. Marijuana. It seems that everywhere we look, there is another story on marijuana, another slew of opinions, always taking one side or the other, usually debating over emotions and morals as opposed to science and facts.

DRUG INFORMATION

Caffeinated Alcohol – A Liquid Mixture of Trouble and Risk

Caffeine and alcohol. That’s not a combination we would typically think of. But there was a time when one could purchase caffeinated alcoholic beverages. That was until 2010 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration determined that such drinks were...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Drug Addiction and Overcrowded Jails

The subject of drug addiction and incarceration has been a contentious one for some time. Many people still feel as though drug use is a crime and therefore should be punished as such. But as the years go by and as our understanding of addiction improves,...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Halting the Runaway Train That is Our Opioid Crisis: Can We Do it?

It may seem like an impossible task to halt the runaway train of our opioid crisis. But Oklahoma has prepared a plan to do just that which can serve as a model for other states and let us estimate the price tag to eliminate this catastrophe.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Drug Addiction on a Global Scale

Almost universally across the world, drug use is going up. Why is this? Why are more people using drugs? Are people naturally inclined to use drugs? Certainly not. National and international communities work very hard to crack down on drug production,...

ADDICTION

Committing to Sobriety in 2020

The holidays are a time of celebration and merriment when we get together with family members, friends, and other loved ones. It’s also a time when coworkers gather in a more casual environment and socialize. The holidays are when we all come together...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Why is Binge Drinking on the Rise for Women?

Although men still misuse alcohol at a rate higher than women, new research indicates that the gap is closing. A study published in PLOS Medicine and reported on in U.S. News brought the spotlight onto this concerning issue.

DRUG REHABILITATION

Drug Addiction—Enslaved to a Substance

To be addicted to a substance is truly to be enslaved by that substance. The substance controls you. But that also means the people who provide that substance control you, in a way. And you are also a slave to seeking money so that you can buy the substance,...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

New Global Drug Report Shows Increasing Use of All Drugs, Huge Growth of Opioid Use and Record Cocaine Production

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports each year on global drug use and addiction. This year’s report shows that despite the efforts of tens of thousands of people around the world, there is more drug use and loss of life than ever.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

A Controversial Awareness Campaign Hits Home but Misses the Mark for Some in South Dakota

A news story out of South Dakota made national headlines when the state launched a controversial media campaign. Governor Kristi Noem led an ad campaign to raise awareness of the state’s meth problem. The slogan of the campaign was: “Meth. We’re...

DRUG INFORMATION

An Update on the Lethal Synthetic Opioid Fentanyl

The extreme potency of fentanyl and similar drugs coming into the U.S. have thwarted efforts to reduce the number of lives lost to drug overdoses. That makes it an important drug to know more about.

DRUG REHABILITATION

Whatever Happened to Providing Abstinence Based Addiction Treatment?

At one time, the expectation of rehab success was abstinence. Now, it's more often the expectation that a person maintains compliance with a medication regimen. Have we given up on the concept of being fully drug-free after rehab?

DRUG REHABILITATION

Why Withdrawal Can Kill and How to Successfully Help a Loved One Get Sober

While stopping damaging consumption of alcohol or drugs is a noble purpose, some people must begin their sobriety with a medically-supported detoxification process if they are to survive.

ADDICTION

Sobriety in the Work Place – Keeping the Alcohol Out of This Year’s Holiday Party

With the holidays right around the corner, business owners, managers, and HR staff alike are searching the internet for holiday work party ideas. A lot of businesses are looking for something fun and different to do this year, a change-up from the same-old...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

How Recovery High Schools Help Teens Launch Sober Adult Lives

In fifteen states around the U.S., recovery high schools offer youth in recovery the right environments in which they can get their lives on the right track for success.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Adverse Consequences of Marijuana Use on the Rise in States that Legalized

Just about everything having to do with marijuana is seen as highly controversial. As states continue to legalize its use for recreational purposes, we are beginning to see growing evidence that not all is as it seems. Using marijuana has consequences...

DRUG INFORMATION

Kratom – New Data on a Controversial Drug

Kratom is a mind-altering substance that has bounced on and off the radar for the last decade. Occasionally, we’ll hear news blurbs about this drug, a story here and there of someone who died from using it.

DRUG INFORMATION

How Alcohol is Killing America’s Young People

When we find that an increasing number of young people are dying from injury-related causes, it’s time to look at how many of them could be losing their lives from preventable, alcohol-related causes.