NARCONON BLOG

DRUG INFORMATION

Alcohol Consumption in One’s Youth Now Connected to Another Health Harm Later in Life

Findings from a UK study connected young adult alcohol use to frailty later in life, particularly as it pertains to losing muscle mass. According to the report, those examined in the study group with the lowest muscle mass drank about a bottle of wine...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Data Now Suggests Home Delivery of Alcohol During Pandemic Created Permanent, Long-Term Harm

New business strategies sprung up during COVID-19 lockdowns. While many such ideas were innovative and helpful, some caused harm. For example, one strategy implemented by alcohol manufacturers involved delivering alcohol to the doorsteps of people who...

DRUG INFORMATION

The Concept of “Holding One’s Liquor” Likely a Fallacy

A group of researchers found that people who regularly drink excessively were still impaired after heavy drinking, even if they thought they had a greater tolerance of alcohol. According to the researchers, the idea that heavy drinkers can somehow manage...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Why are Efforts to Combat Underage Drinking Stalling?

According to a recent report, several types of law enforcement strategies used to combat underage drinking are declining in terms of the frequency of their use by law enforcement departments. This is the wrong direction to go in.

ADDICTION

Pain Is a Legitimate Concern, but Patients Need Better Solutions Than Addictive Opioids

Millions of Americans suffer from acute and chronic pain conditions that severely reduce their quality of life. Unfortunately, the methods of treatment often prioritized for such individuals involve them taking addictive drugs like opioid pain reliever...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Europe Now Facing Similar Drug Trends and Harm as United States. Addiction Treatment is Needed to Solve the Problem

While much of the conversation regarding drug addiction and drug trafficking centers around the domestic U.S. drug problem, valuable lessons can be learned by assessing Europe’s current drug crisis. What is the scope of drug abuse in Europe today? What...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Rates of Opioid Painkiller Use Continue to Rise, Even in States that Legalize Medical Marijuana

Supporters of medical marijuana have often said that legalizing cannabis for medicinal pain relief purposes may help reduce the need for opioid painkillers. Proponents argue replacing opioid painkillers with medicinal cannabis will reduce painkiller addiction,...

DRUG INFORMATION

Even “Moderate” Alcohol Consumption can Raise Blood Pressure and Cause Harm

A recent study found that even drinking alcohol in moderation can create blood pressure complications in otherwise healthy people. This finding adds to the growing scientific narrative that now challenges the “moderate drinking” concept, suggesting...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

What Opioid Abuse Is Costing America

Learn the actual price of opioid addiction in America. This article delves into both the tragic personal and emotional costs as well as the financial burden suffered by every American. It also highlights various sectors of costs, such as employment, justice,...

DRUG INFORMATION

Kratom Now Proven to Cause Fatal Overdose Risk

Initially identified and described as a herbal supplement, stories of kratom leading to fatal overdoses have recently made national news, bringing into question what risks the substance poses. Yet despite recent deaths, there is still very little regulation...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Healthcare Workers at High Risk of Addiction and Overdose

Addiction is often framed as a blue-collar, working-class problem or an issue faced mainly by people who are poor, homeless, or barely hanging on. When people think of addicts, they often think of people on the street. When people are asked to picture...

ADDICTION

8 Tips for Tackling the Tough Talks: College, Alcohol, and Drugs

As fall semesters kick off across the nation, millions of American students head to universities. While academic pursuits dominate, many face the lure of partying and substance experimentation. It's crucial for parents to discuss the risks of alcohol and...

DRUG INFORMATION

Alcohol Is a Leading Factor in Cardiovascular Disease

For years, medical science put forth information suggesting moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefits, namely as it pertains to one’s cardiovascular health. Recent findings, however, suggest this is not the case. Studies show alcohol...

DRUG INFORMATION

Marijuana Use Labeled a Risk Factor for Post-Surgery Complications

A new study found that people who struggle with a marijuana addiction are 20% more likely to experience complications during and after surgery, such as stroke or blood clots. The findings present powerful evidence of the harmful effects of marijuana addiction,...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Drugged Driving in America

An examination of recent data regarding drugged driving in the US shows the problem has worsened. And unlike drunk driving, public health officials and law enforcement have yet to establish effective protocols for preventing drugged driving.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Can Washington’s New Drug Policy Improve Access to Addiction Treatment?

Washington State recently passed a law making it easier for drug addicts to access treatment without facing criminal punishment for possession infractions. Yet, unlike similar Oregon legislation passed last year, the Washington law does not legalize drugs...

DRUG INFORMATION

10 Questions to Ask Before Taking Opioid Painkillers

Patients must protect themselves from addictive medications by becoming informed on pharmaceutical drugs their doctors may try to prescribe them.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Addiction Treatment in the United States Rates Flatline While Overdoses Rise

According to preliminary data from CDC researchers, fatal overdoses were slightly higher in 2022 than in 2021, suggesting overdoses did not decline post-pandemic, as many public health experts thought they would. Meanwhile, treatment rates across the U.S.

DRUG REHABILITATION

What Enabling an Addict Looks Like: Ten Signs You’re Enabling Your Loved One

People who have a family member or loved one addicted to drugs and alcohol usually want to do everything they can to help that person get better, to assist them in breaking free from addiction and achieving a healthy, substance-free life.

DRUG REHABILITATION

The Importance of Intervention Before Hitting Rock Bottom

Addiction does not happen overnight. Usually, there is a dwindling spiral aspect to it, where-in one begins to gradually lose control over their use of mind-altering substances. While most intervention approaches have historically focused on people who...