NARCONON BLOG

ADDICTION

The Importance of Informed Consent in Opioid Drug Prescribing

Who doesn’t want to make informed decisions? Have you ever paid for a product or service on a whim and then regretted it after finding out the product or service wasn’t really what you wanted? You probably would not have made the purchase had you been...

DRUG INFORMATION

Individuals Are Finding It Hard to Get Off Antidepressants. Are They Addictive?

When we turn on the news and read about our nation’s drug addiction crisis, we are inundated with information about the opioid epidemic. We hear tag lines and keywords like “opioid overdoses,” “opiate addiction,” “the opioid epidemic,” “the...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Tide Turns On Pharmaceutical Industry As Leading Advocate Changes Mind On Pain Medication

An article in the New York Times from April 29th, 2019 shone a light on the opioid addiction crisis and highlighted a phenomenon we are very glad to see. Medical doctors, usually pain pill advocates, are turning their backs on pharmaceutical opioids and...

ADDICTION

Yet Another Urgent Reason to Help Addicted Parents

Suicide attempts are another risk factor for the children of addicted parents. We have known for some time that it is harmful for children to grow up in households where one or more of the parents is using drugs and alcohol. There is a wealth of research...

DRUG INFORMATION

Exploring the Off-Label Gabapentin Spike

If you’ve ever had a family member or friend who struggled with seizures, then you’ve probably heard of gabapentin. If not, let’s define it. Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic drug, an anticonvulsant. It’s one of the most commonly prescribed medications...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Substance Abuse, Native Youth, and Reversing a Harsh Trend

Drug addiction and alcohol misuse are human problems. By that I mean, this crippling crisis can befall anyone. No one is immune to the threat of addiction. No amount of money or social status can protect someone from the risk of addiction.

DRUG INFORMATION

The Long-Term Harm of Steroid Misuse and Opioid Addiction

We see this often with people who are self-medicating on anabolic steroids. The misuse of anabolic steroids is harmful enough by itself. When we add another drug habit into the mix, for example, self-medication on opioid pain relievers, the drug habit...

ADDICTION

How to Get the Real College Experience

College is a fantastic opportunity to learn a great deal and to gain valuable experience in order to ready oneself for life as an adult. College is a time to learn a trade, or simply to further one's general education.

DRUG INFORMATION

Opiate Addiction and Cocaine—How the Two Are Connected

U.S. News ran a story on August 8th, 2019 titled, “Lethal Deception: Deaths From Cocaine Laced With Fentanyl on the Rise.” The article talked about how cocaine misuse is on its way up and how that has had a direct effect on increasing drug-overdose...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Now That the Oklahoma Lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson Is Over—What Happens Now?

In August 2019, Cleveland County Judge Thad Balkman ordered Johnson & Johnson and their subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals to pay Oklahoma $572 million for the harm their products cause. When the settlement is paid, what will the benefits actually be?...

DRUG REHABILITATION

Recovery Can Last a Lifetime

Everyone has an opinion on the best way to get off drugs and alcohol. But some people don’t believe that anyone can break free from addiction, that addiction is a disease and one has it for life.

ADDICTION

What Happens During an Overdose and What Can You Do About It?

I’ve always believed the best way to tackle a problem was to first learn as much about the problem as possible. So when one of my closest friends died from an overdose in 2012, I dedicated a good deal of time and my career to learning about the dangerous...

DRUG REHABILITATION

The Difference Between Enabling and Help

Every parent wants to help their child, wants to ensure that their kids have the best chances possible for a good and happy life. This imperative is built into a parent’s nature. But it’s not enough to just hope for a good life for our kids.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

American Fix: Ryan Hampton Says What Needs to Be Said

This new book, American Fix: Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis and How to End It, addresses reasons for the hundreds of thousands of lives lost and the tough decisions that must be made to stop the carnage. It is an important book for anyone who wishes...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Makers of Fentanyl Under Fire for Bribing Doctors

There’s something special and even a little energizing when the bad guy finally gets caught. When the underdog hero somehow manages to win against insurmountable odds.

DRUG INFORMATION

Is Carfentanil the New Super-Drug?

We often ask questions such as “Why has the U.S. drug problem been going on for so long?” We might look for the answer in the fact that nearly every year we are exposed to a new drug (or two or three).

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Rural America—New Epicenter of Drug Use

The drug problem is no longer a “big city“ problem—it's in every city across the US. How did this happen? Growing up in rural, farmland Michigan, I would never have thought that drug addiction would become a problem for those of us accustomed to...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Teens Exposed to Opioid Painkillers in Medical Settings

When we think of how young people are exposed to opiate drugs, what is the first thing we think of? Probably the most likely answer is “peer pressure.“ And not without good reason.

DRUG INFORMATION

Fentanyl—The Drug Ten Times More Potent Than Heroin

It’s difficult to single out any, one drug as being “the worst drug” of them all. Different drugs have varying degrees of harm for those who consume them. Some drugs are more dangerous than others (take marijuana compared to heroin, for example).

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Safeguarding Our Future—Marijuana and Alcohol Use among Youth

The health and well-being of our young people is something to safeguard. Our youth of today are our leaders of tomorrow. An investment in their future is really an investment in ours, too. As parents, we want our kids to grow up to lead successful, happy,...