The Blog

In recent years, there have been worldwide efforts to address the lack of addiction harm reduction and treatment programs for women. There are certain aspects of addiction and recovery that are unique to women, but is there really a need for gender-specific programs? Since studies show women have an increased risk of certain mental health disorders, it is evident that … Read More

The loss of firefighter A.J. Issacs in June of 2019 showcases the relentless and often secretive nature of addiction. Issacs, 47, was a father, husband and a well-respected, 25-year firefighter in Winter Park, Florida. None of Issacs’ colleagues knew of his struggle with addiction. As the supervisor in charge of drug inventory, Issacs had access to substances and was able … Read More

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed legislation allowing residents to access syringe exchange programs. The legislation approved by the Republican legislature, called The Infectious Disease Elimination Programs bill, had bipartisan support. Now, Florida counties can authorize local needle exchange programs, many of which are based on Miami’s Infectious Disease Elimination Act (IDEA) exchange. The Miami program, approved in 2016, is … Read More

Nerve pain medications were recently linked to an increased risk of self-harm. Self-harm can be either intentional or unintentional. The study looked at suicidal thoughts and behavior, unintentional overdoses, head and body injuries and traffic accidents. Stabbing, tingling, burning or prickling are a few sensations felt by people living with nerve pain. Neuropathy — another term for nerve pain — … Read More

In response to the opioid crisis taking place in his state, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has put forward an Opioid Action Plan that would provide about $20 million annually to help communities in Minnesota fund opioid prevention, treatment and recovery strategies. Known as the “Penny-a-Pill” plan, this initiative enacts a one-cent fee for each unit of dispensed opioids by pharmacies. … Read More

The state of New York passed a bill on April 1 creating a tax on opioid medications. This bill was the second bill that taxed opioids. The first bill was declared unconstitutional because it affected other states. According to New York governor Andrew Cuomo, this tax is intended to help reduce the severity of the opioid epidemic in the state … Read More

Officials in Maine held a public hearing on April 1st of this year for a bill proposing the creation of two supervised injection sites. The bill launched speculation into whether Maine will be the first state to house supervised injection sites. Supervised injection sites are places where recreational and illegal drugs can be used under supervision. These sites would have … Read More

In May 2019, lawmakers in Brazil passed legislation forcing rehab for people who use drugs. The move to require rehabilitation at private or religious treatment centers is part of broader legislation aimed at curbing drug trafficking and drug use in the country.  The policy changes include harsher penalties for traffickers, which raises the maximum penalty from five to eight years … Read More

Adderall is a prescription drug used primarily for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Adderall is a combination of active ingredients, which are dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. This medication is classified as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. There are potential long-term effects of Adderall to be aware of, and the risk of these effects and their severity tends to increase … Read More

With a half-life of approximately three minutes, heroin can leave the system in about a half hour. However, the chemicals it breaks down to can be detected for months in some cases. After using heroin, it typically takes four to six hours before the substance will be registered by most drug tests. From the time of usage, it will be … Read More