Author name: Stephanie Ballard PhD, LPCC, CADC

Taking opioids with benzodiazepines (benzos) is extremely dangerous and can be deadly. Opioids, such as Vicodin or oxycodone are used to treat moderate to severe pain. Benzos are used to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, insomnia, and muscle tension. The most commonly prescribed benzos are Xanax and Valium. Mixing opioids with benzos increases the risks of

Methadone is a medication used to treat addiction to opioids such as painkillers and heroin. Methadone helps lessen withdrawal symptoms from opioid abuse. The withdrawals are less intense and the methadone provides a more comfortable detox program experience. It is designed for short-term use to slowly wean a person off opioids. Although methadone has been

Cocaine is a drug that is smoked, injected, or inhaled and immediately affects the brain. Neurotransmitters in the brain rapidly release dopamine, which causes pleasurable feelings. When levels of dopamine drop, withdrawal symptoms start. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms lead the person to use cocaine again and more often. Cocaine is a highly addictive drug. A person

Addiction can happen to anyone. It does not discriminate or affect only one particular demographic. Unfortunately, there is a stigma about addiction. The stigma is a false perception that people who struggle with addiction are homeless, lower class, and uneducated. This stigma negatively affects a person's self-esteem, relationships, and lessens the possibility of him or

Many people use prescription medication to help with insomnia and disruptive sleep patterns. These medications known as sleeping pills are designed for short-term use to help a patient sleep through the night. As with other drugs, many of the prescription sleeping pills are addictive when taken longer and more often than needed. There are many

When a person tries to quit drugs and alcohol alone, he or she is putting themselves at risk for serious mental and physical health complications. The individual goes through intense withdrawal symptoms, depending on the type of drug used, duration of use, and the severity of addiction. Some withdrawals from drugs such as heroin will